What First-Time Voters Are Saying About Why Their Votes Matter
As the Olympic games drew to a close yesterday, there are new games on the horizon.
Think…
Debate stages instead of diving boards.
Registration drives instead of rugby.
Voting booths instead of vaults and beams.
And in Election 2024, as in all competitions, results are decided by the players who show up.
As the founder of a girls’ mentorship platform – one that encourages girls of all ages to raise their voices – I am energized all over again when new voters stand to be counted. When they unite as a team to see their issues brought forward.
The real question is – will they come to play?
Did you know that…
Image via I am a voter
But did you also know that…
Image via I am a voter
As Carla Hawkes, co-Executive Director of I am a voter, the nonpartisan organization creating a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement, told me last week:
“Since the 2020 presidential election, roughly 16 million Americans have turned 18 and become eligible to vote. Historically, this same number of voters have beat vote margins to impact major elections in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin.”
“Gen Z is an incredibly powerful voting bloc this cycle,” Hawkes continued, “[and] they not only make up 1/5 of the electorate, but they're also the most diverse generation in voting history: 49% of them are non-white and 1 in 4 identify as LGBTQIA+. And with many of them voting in their very first election, it's a real opportunity to decide what their future looks like, shape policy in their communities, and elect leaders who are as diverse as they are.”
(L to R) Sophie Beren, Anoushka Sinha, Laalitya Acharya
And young voters know it.
"If we've learned anything from the past few weeks,” Sophie Beren, founder of The Conversationalist, told me yesterday, “it's that you can't underestimate the energy of Gen Z in this race. In many ways, the key to winning their support is simply to show you're listening, and it's never too late to start."
"I think this is a unique set of first-time voters,” Beren added, “because in many ways, they're already disillusioned by our political system."
“But you can’t confuse that disillusionment with apathy. They want to be heard and they are passionate about the issues. Candidates just need to meet them where they are.”
"If there's one thing we know about Gen Z,” she concluded, “it's that they care more about issues than party. Having a D or an R next to your name isn't enough for them. Candidates need to show that they're going to prioritize the things that actually affect young people, like the economy, health care, and climate. First-time voters are so important in this election because they tend to hold leaders to a higher standard in that respect. I think all of us will be better for it in the end."
What else are young voters saying?
"I was a first-time voter this year,” says NYU Young Justice leader Anoushka Sinha, “and it felt surreal to witness the real power of democracy over aristocracy…that no political leader or party agenda is bigger than the fundamental rights of people themselves. I was able to observe the mammoth value we as voters hold to turn around the face of our countries."
"While this won't be my first time voting,” adds Columbia University senior Laalitya Acharya, “it’s going to be my first-ever presidential vote. It’s happening in incredibly unprecedented times but also during an era where the young vote is going to be more important than ever! We are seeing candidates leverage social media and Gen-Z focused messaging in a way that we have never seen before. Voting isn't just our civic duty but a privilege, and I'm so excited to cast my first presidential ballot in November!"
So how can those of us who have been voting for decades help empower a new electorate?
Point them towards smart tools offered by I am a voter, like:
Just as in the Olympics, a torch will soon be passed to a new generation. The hands that will hold it remain unknown. But, that flame will stay lit as long as energized players show up.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three more tips from I am a voter you won't want to miss: exact voting locations state-by-state, their of-the-moment Insta feed, and, of course, voter merch we love.
