Florida Teen Uma Hedge Builds Before the Ballot to Teach Peers Politics
The 16-year-old posts weekly videos and interviews with candidates on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
By Lina Lewis ·
Uma Hedge, a 16-year-old South Florida high school student, launched Before the Ballot earlier this year to teach teenagers about political issues ahead of the midterm election. The initiative posts weekly discussion videos about local and global current events.
Before the Ballot publishes on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. The account has gained thousands of followers in a few months, according to Hedge. She also interviews candidates running for office in Florida and around the country, from both political parties.
Hedge said she began the project after noticing many friends and peers did not understand political debates and interviews. "I would watch these interviews and these debates, I'd realize, 'Huh, I'm having trouble understanding this.' Imagine how my peers who weren't raised in this environment, imagine how they must feel," she said.
She said she aims to talk directly to people her age about facts and let them decide which issues matter. "I wanna educate people. I want people to know, to be politically literate about the world we live in today," Hedge said. "I still wanna learn so much about my country and the way it's governed and things going on."
Hedge said she has interviewed candidates across the political spectrum. "I've interviewed from one end of the spectrum to the other. I've loved all of them," she said. "The biggest thing I've learned with Before the Ballot is that I can find a common thread with almost anyone."
Hedge is not old enough to vote in the upcoming midterm election. She will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election. "I can't wait! I'm so ready," she said.
She said her goal is to reach at least one person who decides to vote because of her videos. "If I can make one, just one person go, 'You know what, I can vote. You know what? I should vote, I should be involved in civic duty,' then my mission's been accomplished," Hedge said.
Before the Ballot will continue posting weekly videos and interviews with candidates. Hedge said she is inspired to keep working after hearing from friends who call her their source of news.
