(Washington, D.C., Wednesday, October 28, 2020) – Young voters of color face multiple challenges in casting a ballot this November. Members of Advancement Project National Office’s Young Voters of Color Advisory Committee identify a general lack of education around civics, politics and voting in school, few polling locations in their communities, a lack of transportation to polling locations, strict work and school schedules, and outdated information on websites run by election officials as barriers to voting.

The top issues motivating young voters to cast a ballot this November are racial justice, the coronavirus pandemic, and police brutality. Qualitative data shows Black, Brown, Native American and Asian American voters will make up one third of all eligible voters in 2020 voters feel left out of the political process and conversation.

While young people of color are broadly skeptical of the nation’s political system, they remain engaged in their communities: 27% of respondents reported they had protested this year and 25% reported volunteering their time with a nonprofit or charity in 2020. Survey results indicate that seventy-eight percent (78%) of young voters of color have taken one or more political actions this year including signing a petition, posting or sharing content online, and protesting. One in four said they had participated in a protest.

Despite the challenges and access to voting this Election, the resolve to participate in voting this year from young people of color, and Black and Brown communities overall is overwhelming due to the moment we are in, the desire to impact policing by voting down ballot for prosecutors and sheriffs, and because there are so many first time voters including community members who were recently naturalized, re-enfranchised after serving a jail or prison term, and young people.

Advancement Project National Office is taking the lead to explain exactly how to vote, prepare ballots so they are counted and prepare for any litigation around access to the polls in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Advancement Project National Office is a next-generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change. Visit https://advancementproject.org/ to learn more.