Columbus Candidates Appeal to Young Voters
Columbus, Ohio – As the November 2025 elections near, Columbus City Council and School Board candidates are increasingly focusing on younger voters, many of whom gathered at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center for a youth-led political debate on Sunday.
The event, hosted by Columbus Stand Up, featured candidates for both local offices answering questions on pressing issues such as affordable housing, education reform, public safety, and transportation — all from the perspective of a young, engaged audience.
“It is important for us as students to get involved,” said Fort Hayes junior Yaretzi Lucero-Buitron. “We are going to be the ones living with these decisions.”
The debate was specifically designed to empower youth participation in local democracy. High school and college students not only attended — they organized, promoted, and moderated the event. Karina Burck, a senior at Ohio State University, was one of the lead organizers and noted how turnout exceeded expectations.
“I didn’t expect so many under-25 attendees. It is proof young people care,” Burck said.
Members of the activist group Black Men Build also attended, applauding the rise in youth political awareness. Organizer Carter Robinson called the event “a crucial moment for getting young minds involved in shaping policy.”
The student voices though many not yet eligible to vote made a strong statement: they are watching, learning, and ready to lead.
Three members will be elected to the Columbus Board of Education, and one City Council seat is up for grabs.
- Election Day: November 4, 2025
- Voter Registration Deadline: October 6, 2025
- Early & Mail-In Voting Begins: October 7, 2025
“We are the future of this city,” said Burck. “It is time we act like it.”
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