As election polls intensify, youth voting has become a point of contention
To the untrained eye, American voters under the age of 25 seem destined to adopt an atypical precedent for how the voting process is perceived.
Ultimately, the initiative to remain involved and engaged within the democratic process has been a challenge youth voters are stepping up to in stride. As the 2024 election cycle beckons new voters to navigate the complexities of American democracy, the landscape is marked by a generation challenging the status quo.
From questioning traditional party politics, to advocating for inclusive civic engagement, young adults are forging paths towards a more representative future.
With tools like social media and grassroots initiatives amplifying their voices, the next generation is poised to shape a democracy that reflects their personal values and aspirations. Still, as the 2024 election polls once again invite new voters to join the fray, ‘mixed opinion’ is the prevailing sentiment.
The two-party system, traditionally seen as the bedrock of American politics, is increasingly being questioned by rapidly evolving young voters who rebel against outdated values that no longer resonate with them.
In response to this two-party system, Che Defreitas, a Posse Scholar studying Black Studies at Middlebury College, proposes an entirely new voting infrastructure that would be more attractive to new voters. “[I] feel like a winner-takes-all election is a bigger problem. Ranked choice would be better,” he said.
Similar sentiments are echoed by weary youth who believe the presidential election process “is in place to create division,” said Aidan Wohl, a student at University of Rhode Island, to the AmNews. Chastity McDougald, a student at Lehman College, added that it “highlights the lack of America’s understanding of democracy.”
Reese Williams, an assistant at African Voices Magazine, identifies social media as the culprit behind many sensationalized views held by young people regarding the election process.
“Not only do we get to see these opinionated highlights…but because of algorithms, we as the audience are susceptible to targeted messaging,” Williams said about prospective voters. Critiques of the American election process dovetails with concerns over decreasing youth voter turnout, exacerbated by social media trends promoting voter abstention. For instance, in 2022, “only 23% of youths in New York participated in local elections,” a stark contrast with the “67% turnout among those aged 65 and older nationally,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Despite these challenges, there is hope prevailing within the margins. Pointing to optimism in hope of a more representative democracy, the youth turnout has been recovering, with a “4.3% rise between the 2018 and 2022 midterm elections.” This uptick underscores the potential to narrow the generational voting gap over time.
And contrary to common belief, the presidential election year isn’t the alpha and omega of civic engagement. Every year presents new candidates on the local and state levels who directly influence the lives of communities around NYC.
Jermaine Isaac, president of the Brooklyn Young Democrats, seeks to heighten awareness of year-round civic engagement through interactive activities that expose youth to the power of their vote on locally elected officials.
“The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today.”, Isaac said. “By voting, young people can take control of their future and ensure that their voices are heard.”
The right to vote isn’t something to take for granted. This power has been advocated as a tool of security, ensuring that all people are equally represented by the government that serves them. It was under this idea that Jahnavi Rao founded and currently serves as president for New Voters, a Gen Z-led organization that prioritizes ‘saving a seat at the table’ for the future protectors of our democracy.
“There’s more than enough people in this country that don’t want you to vote,” Rao says. “All we can do is make sure you have the tools to vote if you want to.”
As a leader of over 30,000 eager advocates from various backgrounds all over the country, New Voters touches on a topic that most don’t consider: the vote of those who speak a language other than English. Recognizing the need to connect to all registered voters, New Voters launches campaigns in NYC and beyond in collaboration with ESOL programs aimed at engaging those with an interpersonal interest that may not traditionally connect with primary candidates.
Rao emphasizes the importance of inclusive civic engagement, saying that, “it takes a village to foster complete civic engagement, so being aware of where you are and who needs representation is always at the top of our priority list.”
In line with this commitment to inclusivity, CUNY Votes is one initiative looking to foster effective voter engagement. Spanning all 25 colleges in the system, CUNY Votes operates as a non-partisan organizer of campus-based activities such as forums, Club Fests, and voter registration drives during freshman orientations. This initiative reaches a student population exceeding 250,000 students.
The goal is to, “promote voter registration, education and turnout through campus-based activities, university-wide campaigns and external partnerships,” a CUNY spokesperson tells AmNews.
However, in the digital age, social media serves as a pivotal tool for connecting populations from all backgrounds. Despite its potential for misinformation and exposure to detrimental ideals, Rao argued that social media unfairly receives criticism. She compared navigating social media to interpreting an abstract painting, highlighting individuals’ ability to discern valuable information from misinformation.
“Our youth are the most informed we have ever been,” Rao says. “We just have to make it a habit to stay connected.”
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