It’s hard to believe that it has already been four years since our last presidential election. With this year’s election fast approaching, it is crucial for young Americans — including me, a political science major and a senior at Pennsylvania State University — to vote. More than ever, we can effectively access accurate resources to allow us to be truly informed voters so our decisions and voices can make America better and stronger. However, there are barriers that prevent us from exercising our political power to the fullest. Perhaps the largest barrier is dark money in politics.
Campaign finance, particularly the influx of dark and foreign money, has impacted the democratic process. Dark money refers to donations made to political groups that aren’t required to disclose the source of the donation. This obscures the sources of funding and the reason behind them. Foreign money, though illegal in direct campaign contributions, can still influence politics through indirect means or through non-profit organizations. This flow of undisclosed money can distort the political landscape, giving disproportionate influence to those with substantial financial resources, diminishing voter confidence and the effectiveness of voting. Notably, since the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, wealthy donors and dark money groups have become more influential and powerful in politics. The decision gave First Amendment rights to corporations, which in turn allows companies, the wealthy elite, and even foreign governments the ability to pour money into our elections, possibly suppressing the individual voices of everyday Americans, including those of young voters.
Dark money in politics has drawn large public attention for decades. Since 1988, surveys have shown that 64% of Americans worry about the high costs of campaigns. Additionally, 89.4% of Americans believe that the influence of money in politics is a threat to our democracy. According to our 2023 Citizen Data Poll, 78.3% of Democrats and 73.4% of Republicans expressed concern regarding dark money in politics — proof this is a serious bipartisan issue. As young adults lacking large amounts of money, we are gradually shut out of politics due to dark money dominance. Sustaining a healthy democracy through fair elections is paramount. And, as the future decision-makers of the United States, we have the power to achieve this.
Regardless of whatever political issues are important to you, the best way to ensure they are addressed fairly is through ending the cycle of multi-billion dollar election spending. This can be done by supporting organizations such as American Promise. American Promise has proposed a solution through a constitutional amendment. The For Our Freedom Amendment would give states the freedom to determine how their elections are funded through reasonable regulation and limitation on contributions and spending in campaigns, elections and ballot measures. In turn, this would restore the electoral process, returning every voter’s voice by allowing candidates to focus on constituents’ issues rather than fundraising millions just to be able to run for office.
While the presidential election is the focus of 2024, it’s important to remember down-ballot elections now and in the future, too. These contests focus specifically on your community, such as school board members and public works initiatives. They may seem insignificant in comparison, but local elections are just as important as the national ones, often influencing young Americans in more direct ways. And like the big elections, they also aren’t immune to the influence of dark and big money. So, if we want our voices to be heard at every level of government, we should start holding politicians, companies, and people accountable. If you would like to know more about getting money out of politics and having a political system that truly represents us, the youth vote, you can sign our Open Letter to Congress from Young Americans.
