It seems like a strange thing to have powerless concerns about as voting only selects a representative. In my experience, the most likely candidates are all reasonably suited to the job, leaving it to matter little who ultimately wins. Even if you are powerless it is not that big of a deal, being the most inconsequential part of the process.

The real work happens after the vote has taken place when you have to start engaging with the selected representative on the regular to make your perspective known. It is guaranteed that you didn't elect a mind reader. It is not clear if the younger generations are aware of that. This may be why they feel powerless.

It my youth the message was always "contact your local representative", but in recent times that message has changed to "how could <insert political figurehead> do this to us?" There is some apparent degree of learned helplessness at play; perhaps because greater media exposure gives us insights into places with strong dictatorships and we project their conditions upon ours.

Invariably, those with enough land ownership ties will ultimately run into municipal issues that will require approaching council, at very least forcing a deeper understanding of government upon them. This may also help explain why those who own things are apparently more engaged politically.