In the recent Midterm Election, voter turnout increased from previous elections. The rise in the overall number is largely due to the amount of young voters.
With polarizing opinions on the current political state of America, many people have been urging voters, young ones especially, to pull their weight of civic duty and use their voices to make a change. Whether on social media, television, the newspaper, or simply talking to friends, the motivation for Americans to vote seems as though it has never been stronger, and an estimated historically-high number of young people reportedly planned to vote.
Many celebrities have been encouraging voting, such as Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and numerous others. Many of them have spoken out in support of the Democratic Party in response to the Trump Administration. This may be connected to the promotion of youth voting, as statistics have shown this group to lean liberal compared to older voter demographics.
Senior Gui Pinho chimed in on why he believed taking the time to vote was important to him in this election. Pinho said, “I will begin being affected by politics soon. I will begin paying taxes, buying insurance, and looking for work in a couple of years.” He wants to make sure his voice is heard when changes in politics, which directly affect him, take place.
Pinho also claimed that he was inspired, like many of his peers, to vote by his disapproval of those currently in office. As he comedically said, “I found myself watching the people in power and wondering, ‘who gave these a******s the office?’ So, I decided to not leave voting up to my 86-year-old neighbor, Meredith, who still thinks planes are made by Satan.”
Ely Adams, a fellow senior, also took it upon himself to speak out for a brighter future. Adams was surprised by democracy granting him the power to vote when he still feels so young. As he said, “I only knew three names on the ballot and I’m still allowed to vote.” He was compelled to vote because he realized he could make a difference and refused to waste his opportunity. Both Pinho and Adams encourage their peers to educate themselves and use their voice.
