“Armchair democrat?” Notice that lowercase “d”? That means that I’m not talking about the political party. Instead, I’m talking about all of us who live in democracies of any sort.
During election seasons, a lot of people become “armchair democrats,” suddenly juiced up and excited by the idea that their vote is the most important thing they can do as a person who lives in a democracy. But its not. Instead, voting is one thing adult citizens can do—people who are legally empowered to participate in formal electoral processes. But there are a lot of us who are not empowered that way.
According to USA.gov, people who cannot vote include “Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents… Some people cannot vote after being convicted of a felony or if they are currently serving time for other types of crimes… Some people who have a mental disability may not be able to vote… U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories cannot vote for president in the general election…” Perhaps most importantly though, youth cannot vote.
Those of us who live disenfranchised aren’t relics from olden times with antiquated ideas. I live in the U.S. and I can’t vote because I’m a Canadian citizen. Instead, I join with youth as a living, breathing person whose life, voice, and actions count, whether or not political candidates want us to. Even if we’re not pandered to or demonized. Even when campaigns, the media, our neighbors and relatives, or anyone else ignores what we think about the elections.
For the last 25 years, I have fought for the end of the voting age because I stand in solidarity with the children and youth of the world who cannot vote and are disenfranchised because of their natural, unavoidable state of being. Given the honor of teaching generations of teachers, youth workers, parents and young people about youth voice, I have witnessed, researched, guided and learned some of the powerful ways young people make themselves heard within the democracies we share.
- If you have never read youth-led research studies, you should. Learn more »
- Ever seen a student-led campaign to change schools? Learn more »
- Children designing cities, not just skate parks and playgrounds? Learn more »
- Youth serving as city committee members? There are many out there »
- Students on school boards? Learn more »
All of these are magnificent, specific and tangible ways young people are improving our democracy right now. Right now, at this precise moment, youth are leading movements to stop the climate catastrophe, end gun violence, promote mental health and much more.
More importantly though, young people are working with adults to teach us, engage us, and enlighten us about the broad, substantive and transformative ways democracies around the world need to be shifting towards. They are guiding us—sometimes gently and others with blunt force—to stop being complacent, intransigent or otherwise indifferent to our own wellbeing and the health of democracy overall.
Children and youth are moving beyond being “armchair democrats” by taking action right now. They’re showing us democracy is as much a verb as it is a noun. Its not just an election day activity, but a lifestyle. Its not every four years, but an entire lifetime.
Let’s learn from ways they define democracy, see how young people enact democracy, and live up to the positive, powerful potentials they challenge us to accept. This is real democracy in modern times.
Progressive Teachers Network 
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