In the 2020 election, Generation Z and Millennials had the numbers to make up 40% of the vote, with over four million Americans turning 18 just in time to take part in the election process. Members of Kingswood Oxford’s Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 fell into this first-time voter category. Did these Wyverns fly to the polls? What issues really made them flap their wings?
KO’s first-time voters all voted in a variety of different ways. “I voted in person because I felt like it would be a cool experience for voting your first time,” senior Justin Edwards said. Seniors Riley Gravel and Ava Radmanovich also stood in line to get their votes counted.
However, other students opted for another option. “I sent in my absentee ballot,” senior Jacob Schwartz said. Especially with the current circumstances, many seniors opted for mailing in or depositing absentee ballots in a drop box. Senior Mary Ellen Carrol sent in her absentee ballot weeks before the election to guarantee its arrival on time. Despite the validity of mail in voting, John Doar ’20 felt as though it was not as exciting as voting in person might have been. “It was pretty lame because it was a mail in ballot,” John said, “which takes away from the traditional voting experience. I think there is something symbolic about going somewhere to vote, so it’s too bad not everyone can do that this year.” Nonetheless, these first-time voters were certainly determined to get their votes counted by whatever means necessary.
While this election covered a vast range of important topics, there were certain issues that stood out to these first-time voters. Mary Ellen definitely recognized the scope of what was at stake in the election. “Every issue was important this year to me, but Black Lives Matter, abortion rights, LGBT+ issues, COVID-19, medicare for all, gun legislation, and taxation of the wealthy were what I focused on for the most part,” she said. “These are all life and death issues, and I’ve seen too many people lost because of them.”
A pressing issue that other voters focused on was the pandemic. “A big issue this year is obviously COVID-19 and how we will continue to recover,” Riley said. Ava agreed that this concern greatly affected voting. “The rebound of the US from COVID-19 was important to address, so whether that be jobs and unemployment, economic inequality, healthcare and just a plan for that in general, it is a big issue that was definitely on the minds of many voters,” Ava said. Another issue that especially resonated with Gen Z voters was environmental protections and rights. “The most important issue for me this year as a new voter was how climate change will be addressed in the future,” Jacob said.
Although this was just their first time voting, these Gen Z voters definitely valued their right to vote and participate in our democracy. “Voting is important to me because it is the responsibility of the people to decide who their leader is, and having the opportunity to vote is an incredibly valuable freedom,” Jacob said. Riley also believes that voting is a civic duty of Americans. “Voting is something that I feel every citizen should take part in,” he said. “It is something that people put their life on the line for, and the least a citizen could do to repay them is do a little research and contribute to the well-being of our country.”
