The Importance of the Gen. Z Vote in The November Election
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Emily Schmidt
Come November, one of the most historic elections of all time will take place. Over the course of American history, the presidential election demographics have changed dramatically. From the indoctrination of Women's Voting Rights through the 19th Amendment, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the voting process is a central right and necessary to the democratic system. However, the eternal question remains: how crucial is your vote?
Presently, about ¼ of the American population belongs to the age group of Generation Z, individuals born between the years of 1997 and 2012. That accounts for nearly 70 million Americans, and according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “Some estimates have predicted that Gen Z will make up 17% of eligible voters in 2024 and 35% in 2036” (The Annie E. Casey Foundation). This is a fascinating detail when considering the Gen. Z election margins in 2020. CNBC wrote an article breaking down the election results, which stated, “NBC exit polls suggest that 65% of those between the ages of 18 and 24 voted for Biden — 11% more than any other age group” (NBC). If the trend of similar political decisiveness follows Gen Z. to the polls this year, it could be a determining factor behind the 47th American President.
In the 2020 election, about ⅔ of the eligible voters in America cast a ballot for the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, or the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden. Gen. Z hit the polls in 2020 with a resounding 28.4% voter turnout, which is extremely significant considering the voter-turnout rates of previous generations and their introductory election-years. According to data from the Census Current Population Survey (CPS) Voting and Registration Supplement, “28.4% of youth ages 18-24 cast a ballot in 2022. That’s significantly higher than the 23% of Millennials who voted in 2006 and 23.5% of Gen Xers who voted in 1990” (CCPSVRS). The higher percentage of voting individuals suggests a more tuned-in audience regarding politics amongst the younger generation. This information raises the question, why is voting more prominent now than in previous years? What has changed so drastically as to provide statistics like shown? Among many, many things, one stands out, the use of media.
If one were to compare side-by-side any of the Presidential candidates’ media campaigns from 2024 to the political-media of elections in the early 2000s or 1990s, the differences would be resounding. Media is used for entirely different purposes in the modern day compared to times past, but the overarching idea is the same: influencing people on an idea/product/trend/etc. In this scenario, the media teams behind our 2024 Presidential candidates hope to influence you on a person, rather than a new product or diet fad. More seriously, they hope to influence voters to feel a certain way about the ideas and morals the candidates have based their campaigns on.
When analyzing and viewing campaign media circling through the nation at the moment, one must consider a few details: What is the intention behind the ad/video/article/etc.? Is it to promote a candidate or bash another? Continuing, one may ask, “How relevant is this source from a political standpoint? How does the information in the ad contradict or agree with preconceived notions?” These questions reference the fallacy behind the media being thrown at the voting population of America. When you’ve seen dozens of political ads, how should you know which ones to believe? Which ones are relevant to the election itself, versus background issues? All of these questions are necessary to making an informed decision about the candidate you will, or won't, support.
When attempting to determine who you’d like to vote for, you must first decide what political issues resonate most with you. This could be anything from a candidate's stance on a certain issue to reforms they are trying to enact. There are a variety of topics to consider. Choose what is most important to you as a citizen, and determine from there which candidate better aligns with your values.
Searching for rhetorical strategies used in political campaigns can be fascinating, especially when searching for it within the candidates themselves. How a future-American leader carried themselves in a debate, during a speech, or through a publicized event can say a lot about who they are as a person, besides a politician. Would you prefer a candidate who is more logical in their leadership style, or a candidate who leads with lots of emotion? There are a multitude of pros and cons to each option, but ultimately the decision is up to you, as the voter.
If you intend to vote in the 2024 election, the following website can guide you through the registration process: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
In closing, I tie back to my previous questions: How significant is my vote? Why should I vote? How will my vote make any difference?
By choosing to vote, you are exercising your right as an American citizen to a democratic electoral system, and simultaneously expressing your political opinion in a healthy and meaningful way. Your vote makes all the difference because it speaks for your beliefs, morals, and opinions on a national scale. You are not voting for a Republican or Democratic candidate, you are voting for your own stance on relevant issues and things you’d like to change in our nation. Your vote matters because it is your own.
And finally, I encourage each and every one of you to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election and let your voice be heard. Happy Election season!
