In 2026, almost 50 million Gen Z members will be able to vote, making them a driving force in the next election. This raises the question: Is civic engagement among Gen Z increasing?
Civic engagement is defined by actions taken to address issues within a community. Protesting, social media activism and most importantly, voting, are all methods of civic engagement. Gen Z has often been described as politically active, and it is visible in school through protests and other forms of advocacy.
At Loyola, we can clearly see rising political engagement among the students. Earlier this year, students attempted to organize a walkout in advocacy against ICE. In Otero, students lead routine debate presentations on topics such as immigration, the Iran war and the foundations of American ideals. Many seniors have already turned 18, reflecting an important transition point in their lives where they become eligible to vote.
Matthew Kane ‘26 acknowledges the increasing civic engagement among Gen Z, explaining, “I think Gen Z has been more politically engaged with what’s happening because there’s an age of media and internet that Gen Z is more able to speak out on their beliefs and make bigger statements.”
Civic engagement for seniors is no longer limited to participation in school or community activities. With this new responsibility of voting, seniors face a difficult choice: register to vote in their home state of California or in the state where they will be attending college next fall.
In U.S electionlaw, residency for voting is determined domicile, a person’s permanent home. However, one can only have one domicile at a time for voting purposes, meaning that senior students get to choose their domicile, and thus, where they will vote.
A senior attending a school out of state can still vote in the California election for the next four years of their college education. If they choose California as their place of residence, out-of-state voters can use absentee voting to cast a ballot without being physically present at their polling place.
One advantage for seniors to register in California is be able to a vote in the state ballot propositions. California is known for frequent ballot propositions that directly change state law, and choosing California as one’s residence gives them a say in their local laws. Registering in California allows students to vote in local county elections in the place where they grew up. This way, these voters will already understand the candidates and the issues they are being presented.
Gabe Prunier Herman ’26 narrates his experiences, explaining, “I’m choosing to register in California because I lived here my whole life, and I understand stuff like ICE and deportation, because I’ve experienced it or seen it firsthand.”
There are also multiple reasons why seniors may choose to register in the state of the college they will be attending. By choosing to register in their college state, seniors will have a say in local ballot measures directly affecting their town. Voting on these policies may directly affect housing laws and tuition-related policies. This way, students may become a part of local tax base discussion and pressing issues such as transit, services and other campus area policies. If a student decides that they may want to live in the state of their college after graduating, registering there would be a decision worth considering.
Matthew Kane ‘26, who will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall, says, “If you just look at the numbers and the population, my vote would have more weight in Wisconsin, which could be an incentive to go vote over there. Also, for the next four years, the issues that are gonna be directly affecting me are going to be in Wisconsin, and I’ve always said, I wouldn’t vote on something unless it directly affected my quality of daily life, so I think I’d feel more passionate about Wisconsin for at least the near future.”
In conclusion, the issue comes down to preference. If a senior chooses to vote in the state of their college, their voting influence would affect their current living environment rather than their home community. However, if a senior is certain they will be returning to California after graduation, and they care about voting on familiar local issues they grew up with, they may want to register in California.
Regardless of where seniors choose to register, the growing political awareness among Loyola students reflects a deeper change within Gen Z. This generation of youth is becoming increasingly involved in the political issues that shape both their local communities and their future because of growing political communication and social interconnectivity as a result of social media platforms.
