About Us
Be Counted is a 501C3 non-partisan organization founded in response to the need to get young voters to the polls. From being given no time off from school to vote or distant voting centers, our goal is to remove the barriers preventing the younger generation from exercising their right to vote. We, at Be Counted, will empower the youth to participate and use the power of their vote to represent their voices on issues that are important to them, such as the environment, gun-laws, the right to choose and many more.
Our Roots
Be Counted was founded by Caitlin Dainas during her junior year in high school. With close to a decade of leadership experience and a keen interest in the constitution, government, politics and law, she set up Be Counted to help advocate for greater youth voter turn-out for the upcoming elections.
Caitlin believes that by exercising one’s right to vote gives the younger generation the power to have their voices heard on various critical issues that matter to the youth today.
Message from the Executive Director
I was at a pre-college program in Rhode Island, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022. I still vividly remember that morning when I found myself consoling classmates and new friends who, overnight, suddenly found themselves living in states with trigger laws. Feeling vulnerable and voiceless, I remember thinking what’s next? Is there something that we can do to have our voices heard on these critical issues?
I realized soon after that our vote was one clear, powerful and prevalent way to get our voice heard. But if that was so, why is it a struggle to get young voters to the polls. According to the Census Bureau data, 2022 saw a downward trend in youth voters (18-24). Turns out that there are a number of roadblocks preventing the youth from getting to the polls, including no time off to vote and distant polling centers. Time to address these challenges.
If we want to be heard on issues that matter to us, we need to get youth voters to register and vote.
So, with almost a decade of leadership experience under my belt and support from my family, teachers and mentors, I set into motion the work needed to establish Be Counted — an organization that will be devoted to increasing youth voter turnout in elections.
Be Counted will drive awareness and advocate for changes to improve youth voter turn-out through social media and strategic partnerships. In collaboration with student council organizations nationwide, we will help coordinate local voter registration booths integrated with popular school/community activities such as football games, track meets, band concerts, and many more. More importantly, we will demystify the stigma on voting and help new voters realize how easy it is for them to vote.
Our mission is simple. We want the younger generation, especially first time voters, to vote. By doing so, we are giving everyone a platform and a voice to advocate for issues that are important to us.
The overturn of Roe v Wade showed me that our ability to be counted matters. To all the young citizens who feel voiceless, it’s time to register, to vote and to be counted.
Caitlin Dainas, Executive Director
