By Gracie Brocato
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
In 2020, the presidential election occurred throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau states that 69% of voters nationwide voted nontraditionally by mail. As the election season kicks off between candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, it is important to recognize the power within young voters. The pressing issues surrounding the election and politics currently include inflation and the cost of living, job creation and unemployment, reproductive rights, border security, gun control, and more.
With such powerful and pressing issues, it is important to recognize the new generation of voters and the impact their voting habits can have on the results of the 2024 election. A pressing issue among young female first-time voters is reproductive rights. Julia Hoban, 20, is a public health major at the University of Maryland and will be voting in the presidential election for the first time. Hoban’s classes have educated her on the political issues surrounding reproductive health, making it a policy she feels strongly about.
“In my classes, we’ve learned a lot about disparities that vary based on socioeconomic status, race, gender, and more,” Hoban says. “It is quite clear that there need to be policies in force that work towards health equity and prioritize minorities and marginalized communities to better the country’s health.”
As the aspect of basic human rights such as reproductive health has become a matter of something citizens can vote upon, Kaleigh Koneval, a 21-year-old criminal justice student at Stevenson University, recognizes the animosity among the parties and the disdain that can often be present from both parties when regarding one another.
“I’m tired of the division between Democrats and Republicans,” Koneval says. “We need to stop being hateful towards one another and hear each other out.”
First-time youth voters have the right and ability to make a difference in politics and society, and it is incredibly important to understand their voting patterns and the psychology behind their vote to appeal to them as a proper and well-fit candidate. The presidential election day in the United States is set for Nov. 5, 2024.
Headline and cover photo created by Microsoft Copilot
AP Style checked by Microsoft Copilot