Voting Matters challenges America's youth to prove their civic and political engagement in a high-stakes examination of voting rights and democracy.
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This film will be graded...
The Process
Generations often view younger people as apathetic or disengaged from politics. We wanted to see if this perception is accurate or shaped by shifts in behavior, especially with social media's rise.
To find out, we spoke directly with college students and young adults, many raised in the digital age. Our goal was to understand whether they are truly disengaged or simply misunderstood.
With a small video crew, we set up in Washington Square Park, asking students about voting rights to gauge their civic knowledge, political engagement, and what being engaged means to them today.
This Film Will be Graded
Enter Dr. Carol Anderson, Professor of African American Studies at Emory, acclaimed civil rights scholar, and author of five celebrated books. Her sharp, insightful op-eds have made waves worldwide.
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When we had the chance to interview Dr. Anderson for our film, we knew we needed to capture her lively, commanding presence. Alongside the usual questions, we had her review students' responses on civic engagement and voting rights. Even though she was on holiday break—no grading in sight—she eagerly stepped up.
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By the end, we were all her students. And we loved every minute of it.
Field Notes
The first time we set up our production at the Robert W. Woodruff Library at Emory University, everything was ready—cameras, lights, audio, action—when we learned that a member of our team was sick, and unfortunately we had to reschedule for the following week. However, the silver lining to our postponement was getting additional time to connect with more people in Atlanta, and get to know their stories.
Behind the Scenes
Advancing the Rule of Law in US Elections
In making this short film, we were fortunate to partner with The Carter Center, a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
The Carter Center's Advancing the Rule of Law in U.S. Elections (ARLUSE) program provides educational opportunities for lawyers to increase their understanding of election law, processes, and procedures, enabling them to counter misinformation and narratives that undermine the electoral process and perceptions of its integrity. ALRUSE also encourages lawyers to develop a "citizen lawyer" mindset, understanding their legal skills not only as professional qualifications but as tools that can strengthen democracy.
Meet the Creative Team
