BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV) – Millions of voters between the ages of 18 and 24 can cast their ballots in the upcoming election – some for the first time.
Bobbi Gentry is an assistant professor of political science at Bridgewater College and author of the 2018 book “Why Young People Vote: Identity, Inspirational Leaders, and Independence.” Gentry says this demographic is more engaged in politics than ever before.
“This generation of teenagers is different than any other generation of teenagers,” Gentry said. “So, when we see candidates who are the candidates we’ve seen for over 200 years, who are mostly white men, [when you] see the difference between opportunities, you will see more enthusiasm from young people.”
Gentry said he saw a nationwide surge of enthusiasm among young voters when President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 race and Vice President Kamala Harris took his place as the Democratic nominee. However, not all young voters voted for Democrats, which Gentry says is a common demographic pattern he has found in his research. He emphasized that there is a strong political and ideological difference among young voters.
“On average, about 40% identify as Democratic, which is not a majority of young people,” Gentry said. “About 30% identify as independents, and the final group between 30-33% identify as Republicans.”
During the 2020 election, 51% of young voters voted, the highest number since the passage of the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution. The amendment established a national minimum age of 18 for participation in national and local elections.
Gentry says another big reason for the increase in youth voter turnout in past elections is increased access to other polling places during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as extended early voting and access. extended letter. registration and elections.
Now with more than a month until Election Day, Gentry says there are several key issues that young voters are talking about in 2024, such as abortion rights, climate change, the war in Gaza and the economy. Another popular issue among this age group is student loans and the cost of post-secondary education.
They’re thinking, ‘Will I get a job after college?’ even more so when the economy is tough because there are few jobs. There are very few good paying jobs,” said Gentry. Hence, there is a challenge of inefficiency or unemployment.
Gentry also noticed when looking at the number of people who vote, young people tend to see voting as a choice, while older people may see it as a duty or responsibility. While Harris and Trump appear to be in a tight race heading into Nov. 5, Gentry said the youth vote can have some power.
“We’re talking about 40 million people who vote for any political candidate, whether it’s a major party campaign,” Gentry said. “Does that mean that every one of the 40 million eligible voters will participate? No. But what it does mean is that there is a real possibility.”
In 2022, Gentry received a $20,000 grant to launch the Valley Elections Project to improve confidence in elections in the Shenandoah Valley through voter education, voter registration and a speaker series focused on how elections work. She received a second grant of $20,000 in 2023 for Elections BC, a program to engage local students in voter registration and organizing student-led engagement efforts.
“Younger voters are more likely to participate after they leave college,” Gentry said. “By creating a program that has peer-to-peer discussion with students who teach and talk to other students about elections within Virginia, we are using best practices to promote student voting. These programs allow Bridgewater College to promote democracy. on our campus and in our community.”
Elections BC is hosting several events related to the upcoming 2024 US presidential election at Bridgewater College. Upcoming events include:
Tuesday, Oct. 1 | Vice President of Debate Watch | Boitnott Room, Rebecca Hall, 9-11 pm
Monday, Nov. 4 | Election Hero Day | Kline Campus Center Lobby, 11 am-1 pm Students and volunteers will write letters of thanks to election officials, election workers, and the state board of elections.
Copyright 2024 WHSV. All rights reserved.
#political #science #professor #talks #importance #young #voters #upcoming #elections