On June 23, we had the distinct honor of welcoming Martin Luther King III to Richmond for the program launch of Generation Engage, a new, non-partisan youth civic engagement initiative that seeks to actively involve young adults in the ongoing political discourse.

With this organization now up and running in Virginia, and with statewide elections just five months away, our respective campaigns for governor are eager to take this opportunity to reconfirm our commitment to Virginia's young adults and to their political engagement over the course of this important election year.

No matter what differences of opinion exist between us about how best to govern our great commonwealth, we agree that all Virginians will benefit when more young voters are drawn into the political fold, when they educate themselves about critical issues, when they take an active role in the ongoing political discourse and when they turn out to vote - not just with their hearts, but also with their minds.

In the last presidential election, young Virginians voted at a rate almost ten percentage points lower than their older counterparts. These numbers drop even lower among the 49 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds who have no college experience. Thirty-five years ago, young people were turning out to the polls at a rate of almost 65 percent. Today, less than half of all 18-24 year-olds cast ballots.

Drawing upon the words of his father, Mr. King reminded us that "the full civic potential of Virginia's communities will remain unrealized until young people make politics a crusade."

The launch of Generation Engage is certainly a step forward in this cause. But neither a national organization nor political candidates will produce meaningful change without genuine dedication from young people. Ultimately, young people will demonstrate a willingness to participate in the ongoing political discourse only when they feel as if their voices will be heard.

As candidates, we will engage our children in a dialogue about our future and speak directly with young voters about the issues relevant to their lives. In turn, we are calling upon young people to capitalize on the opportunities that this election provides. This means joining the debate and turning out to vote.

For those who might be skeptical of youth involvement and the possibility of a marked shift in youth civic participation this November, we encourage you to attend a Generation Engage event in your community. Those who were with us in Richmond two weeks ago saw first-hand what can happen when young adults work together to effect social change. Faced with the opportunity to hear from national and local political figures in a local venue all their own, hundreds joined in the conversation. Families from all over the state and young people of all backgrounds, races and political viewpoints were with us to celebrate the birth of this new effort and this has left us optimistic about the future.

If all young Virginians take a greater role in our democratic process, the future of our commonwealth is in good hands. This is a cause we can all agree on.

Tim Kaine is lieutenant governor of Virginia and Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia. Russ Potts is a fourteen-year state senator from Winchester, Virginia, and an Independent candidate for governor of Virginia. Former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore - the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia - declined to join Potts and Kaine on this op-ed.