By Kylie Caldwell
Every election is said to be “the most important yet,” but in 2024, that may feel truer than others. The 2024 election is historic in many ways, and ushers in a future generation of voters and political attitudes. Being eligible to vote for the first time implies increasing responsibility. Young people and first time voters are an essential part of a functioning representative democracy, but apprehensive attitudes are sweeping the country. According to a U.S. News article from July, Young people are turned off by this election- what can the media do to help?
“Everybody just needs to calm down and care about each other,” Chairman of Cleveland County Republicans Gary Barksdale said.
Barksdale believes that youth should start empathizing with their futures. He also thinks the American education system could vastly improve thoroughly educating students on the inner workings of the government to be better informed on the upcoming election.
Jayme Shelton, vice chair of the Cleveland County Democrats, thinks that young people are the foundation for a functioning representative democracy.
“Their voice is just as important today as it is in 25 years when they will be facing the consequences of today’s vote,” Shelton said.
As the youngest member elected to his city council, Shelton explained that understanding local politics is the groundwork for a fully integrated citizenship in democratic behavior.
Shelton said he keeps his daughters, 4 and 6 year-olds, in mind when thinking about his vote come November. Assuming this is one of, if not the biggest decision yet for some 18-29 year olds, he believes informing themselves is a step most should take.
He also believes that the media can be both helpful and harmful to candidates and voters, so Shelton and Barksdale emphasize the need to consult multiple sources of information.
Voters have diverse priorities.
In July, Stanford released a “America in One Room” Deliberative Poll, revealing how first-time voters feel about key issues driving the 2024 Presidential Election after deliberating with their peers.
According to the Stanford Democracy Lab, “Deliberative Polling is a mechanism through which citizens can address complex issues and the trade-offs they pose in an environment curated for civil and respectful conversation across party lines.”
These were the topics: energy and the environment, the economy, AI, health care, democracy and elections.
The participants in this study were strongly committed to taking climate action and a strong support for reproductive rights was given across political affiliations.
And while many portray Gen Z as losing faith in democratic institutions, when polled on democracy and elections following deliberation, the results showed notable increases in satisfaction with democracy.
Places where there are concentrated amounts of young people, like universities, is where engagement is most encouraged by local organizations. That can take place through campus involvement or advocacy.
University involvement
Oklahoma Votes is a student-led nonpartisan organization whose mission is to register, educate, and mobilize OU students and community members.
“With the help of our civic engagement coalition, we make participation in our democracy a priority on campus.”
“We can all help inform each other- we all have the privilege to be on a college campus and need to use our resources,” OU senior letters student and membership chair for Oklahoma Votes, Hope Wear said.
She stresses the importance of initiating civil discourse and highlights the events she has been a part of, like the most recent debate watching party, where students of all political affiliations were able to respectfully converse in real time.
“We don’t realize the impact we have. We are such a big chunk of the population and can make a real difference,” Wear said.
Protection of free speech and a focus on American tradition or a progressive outlook on our nation’s futures? Research tells.
According to Tufts’ CIRCLE, 57% of people 18-34 said they will vote, but are not sure for who.
“I’ve been an active voter since 1980,” Barksdale said. “This is the most consequential election of my lifetime, because we are so polarized. The youth needs to be well informed of the constitution and in reasonable manner, collect other opinions.”
Tufts’ CIRCLE, or Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, is another non-partisan, independent organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States.
According to Tufts’, the CIRCLE Pre-2024 Election Youth Survey provides key insights on these questions early on in the election cycle, when there is still time for campaigns and communities to take action, invest in young people, and address their needs.
Their initial analysis of the Youth vote included the majority saying they’re very likely to vote in 2024, though groups like Black youth and youth without college experience, who are getting less information about the election and support to participate, are less likely to say they’ll cast a ballot.
The results also indicate that youth overall prefer a Democratic candidate, but nearly a third are undecided and some groups of youth favor a GOP nominee.
Voter registration information is available here and vote on Election Day, Nov. 5 at a local polling place.
“Get out of your bubble. Learn.,” Barksdale said.
