By: Kaila Mack and Matheus Faria
With the presidential elections coming up in November, it seems to be on the forefront of many people’s minds. Following last month’s presidential debate, many Americans feel that the candidate they are choosing to vote for is the lesser of two evils, rather than a person they feel confident about regarding leadership, policy, and competence. Some are choosing to simply not vote at all, as they feel their vote does not make a difference. The fact that they do not feel excited about either candidate likely plays into their decision to refrain from voting.
However, it is important not to fall into this way of thinking. The vote of every citizen is important, and if enough people decide this is not true, it will make a difference. In fact, according to data collected by the Tisch School of the Arts, “In states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, young Black and Latino voters were instrumental in swinging tight races for Biden” in 2020. Had enough voters in these states decided their vote did not matter, the election might have turned out differently..
With eight million young people eligible to vote for the first time this year, it is important to consider what young voters think about when they consider which candidate they see as the best fit to lead the country.
A survey done by the Pew Research Center revealed that 80% of voters believe the economy is a vital factor in choosing a candidate. The survey also found that for Trump supporters, the economy, immigration, and violent crime were viewed as the most important issues, with less concern about issues such as climate change and racial inequality. Those who supported Harris listed health care, Supreme Court appointments, the economy, and abortion as very important issues. We asked students at Bergen Community College to share some of their thoughts and concerns about the upcoming election. Here is what we found.
The aforementioned ambivalence of American voters toward both candidates was on full display among Bergen students. When asked which candidate they were going to vote for, the majority responded with a resounding “neither.” One student remarked, “I’m way too busy with schoolwork right now to really care about all of that. Even if I did, everything that comes out about [Donald Trump and Kamala Harris] is all negative,” reflecting the consensus of the student body.
This sense of unease was mirrored by those who expressed their desire to vote for one of the candidates. As mentioned above, the most common motivator for these students was to vote for a candidate they believed violated their values less than the other. Explaining why he decided to vote for Trump, a student stated, “[Trump’s] policies align closer to my values; however, his personal conduct and views on social justice and the environment are less in line.”
The question is, come voting day, how many students will take to the polls and make their voices heard?