LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean.

Millennials (ages 23 to 38) — and to an extent, Generation Z (22 and under) — receive a lot of grief, whether it's the accusation of being irresponsible, seeming unmotivated, overuse of the word "woke," a strong preference for the man bun or having an unhealthy obsession with avocado toast.

As a millennial myself, I tend to ignore negative stereotypes, but one claim that I find accurate is our inability to show up to the polls during election season.

A surprising statistic I came across recently is that voters under 35 made up 9% of early voting in the Aug. 1 Nashville mayoral election. Only 2% of voters in that race were 18-24.

That virtually mirrored early voting figures in the 2015 general election in Nashville, but turnout then for voters under 35 was only slightly better at 9.6%

During the four-year span, a lot of change has been made to the city — changes that play into the lack of participation by the younger residents of Nashville.

Now, my stance is not under the same "Young people these days" rhetoric used by older generations. I emphasize that, knowing the challenges and distractions that young people deal with on a daily basis.

To sum up this issue under "It's just the way it is" is not a strong enough defense. Legitimate factors play into the lack of engagement of young voters.

The 'it city' factor trumps paying attention to politics

To quote rapper Drake, "What a time to be alive." We've seen a boom in nightlife and excitement in every aspect of Music City — sports, music, entertainment, economics — and at the center of this boom is the "it city" and all the spotlight we've gained since Nashville was dubbed such in 2013 by The New York Times. However, there are issues that tend to be forgotten.

With national attention, it's not surprising to see the growth in population over the years, specifically in millennials. The problem when considering the issue of voting is most transplants aren't fully invested in the issues facing our city. The allure of Broadway downtown or an inspiring music career are often what captivate their attention rather than a hurting homeless population or a subpar school system.

A study from the Pew Research Center shows only 49% of millennials find voting exciting, a not-so-shocking statistic. Younger people find purpose in using their youth in things that are vibrant and intriguing. Politics are dull and often viewed as an old person's world.

Charlane Oliver, founder of the Equity Alliance and community liaison for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, says the city is lacking in voter education and advertisement where millennials are.

"A lot of younger people are on Instagram, places where there isn't any information on when to vote," she said.

Talking about politics these days can be stressful and intimidating

To most, the political realm is not a reality. For ones who are aware, the founder of the Equity Alliance says they find it unappealing and aggressive.

"Only the few gets to make decisions, and that's not attractive to the younger demographic. It also has to do with intimidation and being afraid to admit they don't know who to vote for," Oliver said.

That hit home for me. I've talked to many people my age and that was the resounding argument. It's intimidating to presume that you have to be the "smartest person in the room" only for someone to hand out unnecessary critiques. Also, younger people feel incompetent in a political realm where there are already so many loud voices. Those voices also come from intimate places.

To quote another rapper, Will Smith, "Parents just don't understand." From my experience, as good of intentions parents have for their children, it can be a task for millennials to align every belief and value along with theirs.

Our current political climate shows it's not always possible to agree on every issue. During this critical time of forming one's own thoughts and opinions, the realization that newly formed political opinions may differ from those learned in the home can be overwhelming.

Guilt is built from pressure of wanting to satisfy those who are close to you. The guilt leads most young people away from topics that result in conflict, such as politics.

Local voting gives us hope

While speaking with Oliver and hearing about the guilt and intimidation millennials say they feel toward voting, I started thinking about the 2016 election. It was the first election I voted in and I admittedly wanted no one to know whom I voted for, knowing the toxic environment we were in.

The election, no matter whom you voted for, was the first time that some millennials voted. It certainly was intense, especially for someone's first experience voting.

Speaking to millennials and Gen Z, in children, we learn primarily about the presidential election, so young voters may not always be knowledgeable about the importance or power of local elections.

These elections give us a better opportunity to make change where it will affect our community the most. Voting is much more than just a civic duty. It is taking ownership of your community.

Looking ahead in years to come, issues such as education and housing will be in our hands to handle. The only way we can ensure a sustainable and prosperous future is to vote.

LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean. Feel free to contact him: Email: LHill@gannet.com or phone: 615-829-2384.