"#PrendeTuVoto" campaign aims to increase youth participation in Puerto Rico elections

The turnout for young voters in Puerto Rico declined by 2% between the 2016 and 2020 elections. In hopes of reversing this trend, a coalition of youth-led organizations launched the educational campaign Prende tu voto: Generación del calentón, which will dedicate time and efforts to highlight the importance of young voters.

The campaign targets young people between the ages of 18 and 35, referred to as the "Generación del calentón (Calentón generation, in English)," a reference to Bad Bunny's El Apagón, a song with lyrics that explore both the love of Puerto Rico and the impact of displacement. "[We are] the generation that has lived through everything. We've lived through Hurricane Maria, we've lived through the pandemic; we've lived through different events where, well, we have nothing to lose by participating and going out to make our voice heard. And that is the goal: that young people, who are the ones who will take the reins of the future of this country, or who are already the future of this country, can be in decision-making spaces that impact us as a generation," said Kari Claudio Betancourt, director of La Tejedora, an organization dedicated to creating ties between young people working for self-determination, decolonization and climate justice in Puerto Rico.

La Tejedora connected a group of organizations to be part of this campaign, which will promote education about the electoral registration process through visits to schools and universities. Among the organizations are the Centro de Economía Creativa, Escuela de Liderazgo Político y Comunitario de Yabucoa, Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción, Plataforma Eje, Pública Espacio Cultural, 9 Millones and True Self Foundation.

The official launch of the campaign was held on the evening of June 26th at Pública Espacio Cultural, in Santurce. The event began with a conversation led by two collaborators of Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción, Eunice Ortiz and Natalie Caraballo, who discussed the importance of exercising the right to vote.

Caraballo, also a member of Vota fácil and founder of Proyecto 85, explained that in the 2020 general elections there were 406,324 young people between the ages of 18 and 29 who could vote, but only 192,431 participated, or 47%. She emphasized that 213,893 or 53% of the youth population, did not go out to vote.

"When we don't go out to vote, what we are doing is making it easier to perpetuate the status quo, and if we are under the belief that we deserve something different, so the youth stays in Puerto Rico.... If you made the decision to stay in our country, we should also make the decision to take the reins, and that starts with something as simple as getting your voting card and going to the polls this November 5th," said Caraballo.

Several local media outlets, community leaders and the general public participated in the meeting, which served as a space for exchanging ideas. A member of the audience, Jean La Fontaine from Carolina, commented that he perceives voting as a decision that transcends individualism. "I want us to think about the act of voting from the perspective of building power among the people," said Lafointaine, who identified himself as a political and community organizer.

The night concluded with sets by two local artists, Hery con H and Janice Maisoinet, who had everyone grooving and dancing to the beat of rap and jazz, respectively. But the musical entertainment is only a prelude to what the campaign is preparing for its closing on September 7th. "Prende tu voto: la generación del calentón", will offer a concert for those who are registered and have their electoral card. Guest artists will be announced at a later date.

If you are interested in attending the concert, you can get your ticket at La Tejedora's website. The concert will be free of charge, and you only have to submit an image or evidence of your electoral card on the platform. Stay tuned to our platforms to find out how you can upload your card and get your fast pass for the event.

9 Millones is part of the coalition #PrendeTuVoto and will contribute to the campaign with editorial content on how to register to vote and defend the right to vote. Follow us to find out how you can get your voting card and get your ticket for the event.  

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