By MACKENZIE ALLAIRE
It’s been a consistent trend that young people are less likely to vote than older people, and the difference is often substantial, but with an upcoming controversial presidential election looming, the younger generation may be more involved than ever before.
Statistics have shown that the younger generation is less likely to vote than the older generation. This can play a large role in the way the election turns out, and we need to understand why this may be, and how it can change in the future.
“I think that the younger generation’s turnout will be higher than ever before. One of the main reasons is social media and the information that is in front of everyone every minute that they’re awake nowadays,” Erin Hennessey, the NH Deputy Secretary of State, says.
The younger generation may opt to vote in this upcoming election because they have much more information available than ever before with the help of the internet and social media. Having information such as how to vote, why it’s important to vote, where you can vote, what your options are, what the candidate’s information is, and how to contact a candidate to get more easily accessible info plays a huge role in getting the younger generation to vote.
With this election being extremely controversial and the sides being heavily divided, college students may have strong opinions on the election itself and have had to make hard decisions regarding their decision to vote.
“I absolutely will be voting” Merrimack College student Aidyn Welsh states. “Why wouldn’t I vote, this country is going to shit right now. And we’ll never see a change if people don’t vote,” Welsh elaborates.
Despite the stereotypes that the younger generation, and college students in general don’t care about elections and don’t care to vote are not true. Many college students care about making educated decisions and exercising their right to vote in this upcoming election. The internet and social media can help students make more informed decisions, and better know and be sure about the decisions they are making that can impact their country.
“I think Younger voters in this generation are smart enough to check their sources and not just trust the one thing that comes in front of them as the truth,” Hennessey states.
Social media also plays a huge role in some students’ decisions regarding the election. Some have called it “the Taylor Swift effect.” This occurs when people’s role models, typically famous people, or people they look up to, make their opinions regarding candidates public. This can affect how their fans decide who to cast their votes for, or at least sway their opinions in certain ways.
Parents and teachers can also influence how the younger generation feels about politics. When politics are heavily discussed in the household or in the classroom it may motivate and encourage young adults to form an opinion on voting.
“My parents play a large factor in my decision to vote,” Welsh says. “Politics were always talked about in my house so it was something I became passionate about,” Welsh concludes.
Getting younger voters to understand that their votes really do count is another important aspect of understanding why younger people may not be voting. Some students have stated that they feel their votes won’t count and that it isn’t important for them to vote because their state has stayed consistent with its political affiliation for as long as they can remember.
Students who feel their votes won’t make a difference anyway have less motivation to make a decision on a candidate if they aren’t sure who they favor.
“I’m unsure if I’ll be voting because I’m not a big fan of either candidate and Massachusetts will vote Democrat either way,” Samantha Mercauto states.
Social media can also affect younger people feeling less willing to vote. Social media many times instead of lifting both candidates up and providing a platform for healthy discourse, many times it can be intense and negative.
“Social media has definitely made me hate both candidates more and pushed me further towards not voting. They are both too extreme and there is no middle ground,” Mercauto says when asked if social media has affected her decision to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Mercauto’s opinion has been a popular one among the younger generation as with social media comes along more divide between the two candidates as well as their supporters. Politics have become much more hostile in recent years as the divide between the two parties becomes much more defined.
The younger generation certainly has a big decision to make on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. If college students and young adults can continue to educate themselves and have healthy conversations regarding the election, the voter turnout for ages 18-24 can be higher than ever before, as long as negativity and hostility don’t turn them away first.
