There’s one demographic that isn’t participating in this election as much as others: Voters 18 through 25.

As of Wednesday, 43,137 Coloradans ages 18-25 had returned their ballots for the Nov. 6 election out of 951,431 total returned ballots – by far the lowest return rate of any age group tracked by the secretary of state’s office. By comparison, 222,779 Coloradans ages 71 and older had returned ballots by Wednesday.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that our own citizens don’t even exercise their right to vote here,” says Vietnam War veteran Ralph Bozella.

Bozella is a retired educator from the St. Vrain Valley School District in northern Colorado. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served 1970-1972. He served as a combat infantryman in South Vietnam in 1971-72.

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He has been active with the American Legion for four decades and has served on various state boards and commissions dealing with veterans issues.

When Bozella was drafted, Americans under the age of 21 couldn’t vote, yet many under that age were sent overseas to fight and die for their country. The 26th Amendment to the Constitution granting 18 year olds the right to vote was ratified July 1, 1971.

IN THE VIDEO BELOW, Bozella urges younger Coloradans to get involved.