Columbus Candidates Target Young Voters

Engaging Young Voters in Local Elections

As November’s election approaches, candidates for Columbus City Council and the Columbus City Schools Board of Education are intensifying their campaign efforts. A recent debate held at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center brought together both sets of candidates, offering a platform for them to address key issues facing the community.

The event was hosted by Columbus Stand Up, an organization dedicated to making the political process more accessible, particularly for working-class citizens. The debate aimed to engage young voters and encourage them to become informed about the candidates and the issues that directly impact their lives.

Youth Participation in Political Discourse

Fort Hayes junior Yaretzi Lucero-Buitron shared her perspective on the importance of youth involvement. “It’s very important for us students, especially, to be out there and involved because a lot of things apply to us as well,” she said. “When we grow older, these things will matter.”

Carter Robinson, from the local chapter of Black Men Build and a presenter at the debate, emphasized the significance of reaching impressionable minds. “It’s amazing to have such a youthful crowd,” he remarked. “Engaging young people early can shape their future participation in the political ecosystem.”

Karina Burck, an intern and organizer of the debate, is a senior at Ohio State University. She expressed surprise at the number of young people who attended. “I’m actually shocked at how many people under 25 have showed up,” she said. “I didn’t honestly expect as many youth to show up as they have.”

Building a More Informed Community

Burck hopes to use her experience with Columbus Stand Up to inspire more young people to get involved in local politics. “We are the ones that are the torches getting passed to,” she explained. “We are the ones that will be engaged in our political ecosystem for the longest time. Getting us engaged early is really important because we will then want to keep engaging throughout the rest of our lives.”

Student volunteers played a crucial role in the event, helping attendees navigate the venue and find resources. Fort Hayes senior Marilyn Lucero described her motivation for participating. “I just want to see, like, put myself out there and engage with my community a little bit more,” she said. “I want to see what issues are being discussed and what’s happening in running my community.”

Key Issues and Voter Engagement

NBC4’s Kyle Beachy moderated the City Council portion of the debate, where candidates addressed topics such as affordable housing, homelessness, education, public safety, transportation, and governance. These issues directly affect the community, including students.

Lucero emphasized the importance of being informed. “Being knowledgeable about those issues means that once we are eligible to vote, we can help make a difference,” she said. “These students are directly affected by these issues.”

Young high schoolers who are not yet old enough to vote believe that young people don’t get involved enough in local elections and politics. Lucero-Buitron shared her thoughts on this. “I feel like a lot of people are scared to reach out and ask questions,” she said. “They also don’t feel like it matters to them as much because it doesn’t apply to them.”

Both students recognize the need to be informed and to hear different perspectives. “Not everyone is like me, and hearing their perspective about these things opens up new worlds for me,” Lucero-Buitron said. “Being aware of what’s around me is really important.”

Upcoming Elections and Voting Information

Three members of the Columbus City Schools Board of Education will be elected from the six candidates. One new City Council member will be chosen among the two candidates. Election day is scheduled for November 4. The deadline to register to vote is October 6, 2025. Early voting and mail-in voting begin on October 7.

By engaging young voters and encouraging them to participate in the political process, events like this debate play a vital role in shaping the future of local governance.