Voices of change: First-time young voters in the 2024 election

With a little over 10 days until Election Day, millions of Americans are poised to cast their ballots. This year, a unique group stands out: young voters—some just turning 18, others in their late teens or early 20s, along with newly naturalized citizens—who are making their voices heard for the first time in a presidential election.

Click on each person’s photo below and you can explore that person’s unique story and perspective on voting, giving you insight into their experiences and what this election means to them.

Bailey Medilo

Filipino American Bailey Medilo, 19, is from south Seattle. They are the Digital and Communications Organizer at Washington Bus, a nonprofit organization based in Washington state that focuses on engaging young people in the democratic process.

NWAW: How does it feel to participate in a presidential election for the first time?

Bailey: I have complex feelings about it. There is that excitement to be in such an intense and needed moment in our electoral history. Being someone who works behind the scenes in the organizing and political spaces, I recognize just how much corruption we’re fighting against and how, unfortunately, UN-democratic our democratic processes are right now, and how much work we still have to do in order to achieve a genuine democracy.

I’d also like to mention the amount of money that’s flooding into politics and outside spending and covering up potential election voter fraud, election interference and voter suppression, gerrymandering, an intentional flooding of misinformation, and a lack of voter education, resources and organizations.

It really makes me feel excited, terrified, dejected, and demoralized… all at the same time.

NWAW: How did you prepare for the voting process? Did you seek out information about the candidates and issues?

Bailey: The biggest thing I did was seek out my community. There is so much attention-grabbing propaganda here and there, for anyone running for office or anything on the ballot.

I needed to find sources of information I could trust. I work for the Washington Bus. We are a youth voter engagement nonprofit, and we interview people running for office and submit their statements through our own voter guide process. So that was information I could use to really figure out what’s going on.

But also, there are tons of people in my community, my neighbors, my friends, my family members who all have their own priorities and experiences. And though I may have a certain perspective, I have to remember that I’m not just voting for myself. I’m voting for the betterment of my community. A lot of it has to do with people and being open to discussion, and balancing my own opinions with the needs of the many.

NWAW: What issues are most important to you?

Bailey: I’m very big, especially with the presidential election, on international issues. 

I am staunchly against the continued global tilt towards militarization and corporatism. As a voter, and as someone with family back in the Philippines, I see firsthand how the military industry impacts both my family there and our community here in Washington state.

Every presidential candidate currently running has a vested interest in the military-industrial complex. 

When it comes to the ballot, I need to ask myself… have these people really earned my vote? Have they earned my community’s vote? 

Scaling down from the presidential election, I’m very, very concerned about housing. Right now, I live in an apartment that costs nearly $1900 a month in the south end. I am 19 years old, I work full-time, I dropped out of college because I couldn’t afford college.

And I see myself facing the reality that my housing situation is unsustainable, and this is a reality shared by many working youth, 18, 19 to 21. This is the reality that other working families are facing, especially in Southeast Seattle, the Central District, Beacon Hill, and the Chinatown-International District. 

We are seeing a systematic erasure of AAPI working families, because of gentrification, because of lack of transit infrastructure, lack of investment in community-centered housing. 

There was a huge scare with the Seattle EDI (Economic Development Initiative). People in City Hall were trying to, very intentionally, water down and tear down the EDI funding and that enraged my community. I saw my community elders come out in protest against this and as a young person, I recognized that yes, they were fighting for EDI, but they were also specifically fighting for our future… this funding goes directly towards building homes, community centers.

And connected to housing is transit because transit teaches us a lot about environmental racism and how communities of color, especially AAPI communities, have been sectioned off and siloed from each other because of the lack of infrastructure, lack of bus lines, and also a lack of safety.

I’m looking for a candidate that has an open mind towards equitable and also effective and transformative funding, and a plan for truly invigorating Seattle’s and King county’s housing and transit networks.

NWAW: You touched on housing and you also mentioned transit. Do you own a car?

Bailey: I do not own a car. I live right next to a [south end light rail] station. I take the train to work every day and I’m impacted by how many times the train is constantly having issues, how it’s constantly out of service or it’s late. I struggle to get to where I need to go.

I have the privilege of working for an organization that’s flexible with my location, but this may not be a reality for others.

I’m no longer 18 but that youth transit pass, where a young person can get from A to B for zero dollars … that is one of the best investments our state has made for transit through the Climate Commitment Act. I would like to see similar flavors of solutions to connect our communities and to get working families, elders, and youth to where they need to be.

NWAW: How do you think your background or experiences shape your views on the candidates and issues?

Bailey: Being a child of Filipino immigrants, living in southeast Seattle, my lived experience is seeing the continuous failure of leadership, seeing disinvestments, and seeing my own community have to constantly fight for a seat at the table.

I’m hyper aware of how people like me are being systematically erased from our neighborhoods, how families are being priced out of Seattle, long-time families who have roots in this community and are being forced further down south or further up north.

I want to see more investments in community land trusts. I am excited about what social housing can contribute to our affordable housing matrix and how building co-ownership with tenants can bring a more community-focused hand towards decision making. 

The Seattle electoral space isn’t built for young people. It isn’t built for young immigrants. It is specifically structured in a way that uplifts people who have the most time and the most money—people who can take time out of their days to go testify or have meetings with council members—not working youth who have 9 to 5s or even night shifts while council is in session. We are having to work to provide for our families who fought to have a place in this city and in this nation… all of that is not lost on me… how my identity deeply and intimately impacts my politics, and how I approach my ballot this year.

NWAW: Do you think your vote will make a difference in the outcome of the election?

Bailey:  I think on a local level, my vote is beyond necessary. Will it make a difference? Well, it’s up to the people who we vote for to make that difference happen.

There are four statewide ballot initiatives that intend to repeal a decade of policy making. I know that my vote will have an impact.

On the national stage however, I am faced with the reality that our election system is broken, especially with the Electoral College. And I’m also faced with the reality that there is not a candidate in the presidential running that fully and deeply reflects the positions and needs of myself and my community. I would like to see a genuine democracy for the presidency and I would love for my vote to matter more than what it currently does.

Time and time again, young people have been asked to sacrifice when they vote. I think we need to take back the level of respect that our vote requires and really demand that the people who want our votes, earn it. That doesn’t just go for the presidency, that goes for every level of office.

NWAW: What would you say to someone who is hesitant to vote for the first time?

Bailey: I would say that your hesitance is valid AND you have this opportunity to affect real change. There are really transformative decisions that happen at the local level, where your voice could be the tipping point.

And I say, vote with your conscience. Use your vote to strike a further conversation on how I can continue to get involved in the decision. I’m always someone who says: advocacy does not stop at voting… because you can get organized and there are many ways to make your voice heard.

I would like to transform that hesitancy into passion. What can we do now to make a better future for ourselves? 

NWAW: Speaking of the future, would you ever consider running for office yourself?

Bailey: I had the amazing privilege of working for people who were running for office, and helping run the campaigns has taught me that that is something I do not want to do!

I look forward to meeting a young person with the bravery to put their name on that ballot, and I look forward to supporting them and being part of that community that uplifts them to be a changemaker.

I feel like there’s this narrative that young voters are apathetic, that they don’t care, they’re tapped out, and I think that’s wrong. I think the biggest issue is an issue of access. Young people are paralyzed by the lack of information, by the amount of choices that are being presented, and also just the amount of disinformation, misinformation, and sometimes we just don’t have the time to sit down and research our ballot. I think there needs to be, I think there needs to be a strong concerted effort towards creating access to democracy. Washington state has a lot of investments in our ballot box that have improved our democracy, and there’s a ton of great work by organizations like the Washington Bus. I would like to see leaders at the city, state, and national level do more to combat the narrative of voter apathy and work towards a solutions-oriented agenda on how we’re going to galvanize these votes.

I’d also just like to shout out candidates who have youth teams who regularly engage young people… candidates who actually do the work of being in community and engaging, not just youth, but youth of color, especially in the south end. I see that engagement as representation. Even if the candidate doesn’t look like me, they are hearing from someone like me, and they are taking my voice and bringing that to the table.

Reen Renaud

Reen Renaud, a 45-year-old Malaysian American, became a naturalized citizen in 2021. Living north of Seattle, this year marks her first opportunity to vote for president.

NWAW: How does it feel to participate in a presidential election for the first time?

Reen: To be honest, I feel very fortunate, and this is a very special time for me. I’ve lived (in the United States) since 2017… I came here because I fell in love and married an American. 

I became a citizen by naturalization in December 2021 … this is actually my first opportunity to elect a president. I voted in other elections before, I think twice, for the state in Washington. And this election is crucial… it’s very important for me to have the right president for this country. 

NWAW: How did you prepare for the voting process? Did you seek out information about the candidates and issues?

Reen: I waited for the ballots to arrive in the mail and I took the time to read through the voter’s guide. At the same time, I Googled the candidates and also researched what other people are saying.

I talked to my husband and also to a friend of mine, and I talked to our family members as well… asking their opinions on the candidates. Then I made my own decision.

NWAW: What issues are most important to you?

Reen: There are so many issues, but I think the most important one is the cost of living, especially in Seattle. 

Living in Seattle is not cheap. We are paying a mortgage, and at the same time, we have to pay for all the utilities—electricity, water, everything is so expensive. It can cost close to $4,000 a month, so it’s really not affordable for many people, especially when you have kids.

We don’t have kids, so we’re managing so far. You just need to make sure you’re not spending too much money, like eating out and things like that.

The second one is medical expenses. They are just outrageous. You better not fall sick; you have to stay healthy. 

NWAW: How do you think your background or experiences shape your views on the candidates and issues?

Reen: My views don’t really relate to my background and experience. I’m just more focused on the future, especially my own future, my family’s future, and my friends’ future. Those are the important things, and we have this opportunity. We are in a country where the people are the ones who fight.

NWAW: Do you think your vote will make a difference in the outcome of the election?

Reen: Definitely, of course. My voice is important, you know, especially if you are new to the country and you have the opportunity to vote. In certain countries, you don’t have that opportunity.

To become a naturalized citizen is a long process. It involves time, money, and effort. So, this opportunity for me to vote is a huge privilege. It’s an honor, and it’s also a responsibility for us as citizens.

You have a voice… use it. Our voices matter, and I will vote.

NWAW: What would you say to someone who is hesitant to vote for the first time?

Reen: Well, my advice to someone who hasn’t voted for the first time is that it’s very important. Ask yourself, would you hesitate if someone were taking your future away?

I don’t think anyone would, right? So if you don’t want your future to be taken away, please do not hesitate to vote for your future.

Hazel Makol

Hazel Makol, 21, is casting her vote in a presidential election for the first time. Born in India and moving to the U.S. when she was just 2 years old, Hazel now lives in Kent, Washington. She embodies the hopes and aspirations of a new generation of voters eager to shape their future.

NWAW: How does it feel to participate in a presidential election for the first time?

Hazel: It feels good… I’m kind of helping my parents out with theirs, but it’s the first time I got to, you know, submit something on my own. When we got the ballots in the past you know, my dad, he didn’t know a lot about everybody that’s running and I remember we’d get pamphlets in the mail that would have like a little biography about each candidate.

So I would just kind of help him understand what he’s voting for and what each candidate represents. I feel like, even though they live here now, they have more knowledge about the politics in India versus over here. So, you know, just kind of helping them understand everything and what’s on the ballot and what they’re voting for.

NWAW: How did you prepare for the voting process? Did you seek out information about the candidates and issues?

Hazel: Huh, good question. I feel like I’ve had my opinion for a while about who I support and who I don’t support. I’ve kind of held my ground on that. So when I got my ballet, I already knew immediately who I was voting for. And then, for some of the other candidates that are not really up in the news every day, I did a little bit more research. But when it comes to the president, for example, I already had my mind made up just because of everything on, you know, I’ve seen and heard in the past.

NWAW: What issues are most important to you as you cast your vote?

Hazel: A lot of these issues are always in the news. For example, we have immigrant rights. I’m a minority, so women’s rights are very important to me. The economy and jobs are also significant.

I need to make sure the candidates I’m voting for support for example LGBTQ rights. I feel that rights for minorities are very important, as well as environmental issues. These things definitely play into the bigger picture.

Choosing a top priority is hard because they all feel equally important. I’d say women’s rights might be my top issue these days, and also job-related issues. Immigrant rights and ensuring everyone is treated fairly are very important to me.

NWAW: Do you think your background or experiences shape your views on the candidates and issues?

Hazel: Most definitely. I feel like if I had a different background, my opinions would also be different because I’m a minority.

When I see things in the news and hear candidates making their speeches, I feel that my background shapes who I am. That’s ultimately going to decide who I vote for. So yes, it’s a huge factor.

NWAW: Do you think your vote will make a difference in the outcome of the election?

Hazel: Yes, every vote counts! 

NWAW: What message do you have for other young or first-time voters?

Hazel: Like I said, every vote counts, so if you’re not sure who you want to vote for, I recommend doing your research a little bit.

Even if you’re still not 100% sure who you’re leaning towards, just take some time to look into it. I know I’ve talked to people this year who didn’t like any of the candidates, but at the end of the day, whoever you’re leaning towards—even a little bit—just go ahead and cast your vote because, like I said, every vote counts.

NWAW: What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to vote for the first time?

Hazel: I feel like they should definitely vote even if they haven’t before because, like I said, every vote matters. Just try to do your part and get involved. You can go out, talk to people, and get educated. But yeah, I definitely say you should fill in the ballot, no matter what.

Sidd Das

The Northwest Asian Weekly’s Carolyn Bick chatted with Sidd Das, a University of Michigan student who just turned 18 in December 2023, about why voting in this election is so important to him, what advice he has for first-time voters, what issues he believes are crucial. *This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

NWAW: What an election to be voting in for the first time! How does it feel to participate in a presidential election for the first time, and especially in this one?

Honestly, it’s pretty cool. I grew up in a very politically and civically engaged family, so politics is kind of at the core of our family dynamics. 

I remember when Trump got first elected in 2016. I was watching the coverage with my mom, and we even talked about it.

I mean, I was, what, like, 10? So, I didn’t really understand much, but I assume it was just so interesting to me. And then with Biden, when I was a freshman in high school … over those three or four days when they’re still counting votes, I was always updating my app or updating the website, just trying to see.

I wouldn’t say it’s any crazy different to me, because I’ve always been pretty politically engaged, and I love learning about politics and stuff like that. But it is pretty cool, especially on a college campus.

Although it is a very contentious and pretty polarizing election, I am proud that I am able to make an impact and vote, because that’s what I’ve been wanting to do since I got into politics.

NWAW:  You mentioned that you come from a pretty politically and civically engaged family. Are you specifically now pursuing politics, or was there a time where it went from “Okay, my family is big into this, so I’m big into this,” to “I’m just big into this because it matters a lot to me?”

I think at first it definitely was more of the family, like when we would watch the news or when we would listen to different speakers on political issues, I would tune in and then I’d be like, “Okay, this is kind of cool.”

But then as I got older, I think probably during the 2020 election—I was 15, so that’s when I kind of got older, and really started to realize, “Hey, politics is a really cool thing. And maybe down the line, I could see myself getting into politics or working in a political field.”

But definitely I started to realize for myself that politics is just really important and really helpful.

I just love learning about politics, and being civically engaged is kind of like my thing. So it started from my parents, but then I grew into it as I got older, as a teenager.

NWAW: It seems you have a good grasp on how to prepare, given how you grew up. Was there anything that surprised you? And what tips would you give to other folks who are like, “Oh, my gosh, this is the first time I’m voting”?

As I alluded to earlier, Michigan has a plethora of resources, and that was really helpful for me because I think one of the things that kind of stood out to me was the actual ballot itself. Obviously, I know you vote for president, senator, representative—stuff like that.

But the down-ballot is so long! And I didn’t even realize that [I would be] voting for the different boards, or even going down to the libraries or different propositions, stuff like that. 

My advice—and this is one that really helped me—is there’s a couple of websites online.

I think it’s Ballotopedia. You type in where you’re voting, your zip code, and it provides you the entire down-ballot. So you, on your own time, can go research the different propositions [and] the different people that you don’t know.

Also, talk to people, research the issues, and see which one you resonate with the most because, ultimately, they’re all important issues.

NWAW: You mentioned you talked with people. Is that one of the big ways you prepared for this?

I’m Houston-born and-raised. But back home in Houston, I always had lots of family and lots of friends to talk to.

So that wasn’t really an issue. But coming here, especially out of state, I didn’t really have those same connections. So, like what I alluded to earlier, you have to go and seek it out.

And I honestly think that’s the most important thing you can do, in terms of taking initiative, whether that be through researching or talking to people. Because that’s really the only thing you can do. I mean, obviously, you’re going to have flyers and campaign ads.

But no one’s going to tell you directly to your face, “You need to vote for this person.” Because, obviously, no one knows who you’re going to vote for. So you just have to be able to see who speaks to you, in a sense.

NWAW: What issues are most important to you?

I guess this is more of a national and local issue, but immigration is definitely one of the biggest local ones for me. My grandparents came from Palau, India, the United Kingdom—we just have a big family of immigration, so it’s a very important issue to me.

And then also in sophomore year, I had the chance to go to the southern border in El Paso[, Texas]. And I talked with people running the refugee shelters, I talked to Border Patrol agents, and I even was able to talk to some of the migrants themselves. And that was a very eye-opening experience to me.

That’s a national issue, but I definitely see more of an emphasis on it in Texas, especially… [with] Texas being a border state.

[Another issue for me is] safety. I couldn’t tell you how many times, even in middle school, we had to shelter in place because we had shooting threats, we had bomb threats. It’s just like a perpetual issue. And it seemed like almost every three or four months, we had this big, new thing.

I don’t know how many times I texted my mom and dad. I was like, “I love you. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” I was like 10 or 11, and I knew that this was crazy.

The biggest shooting that I can kind of remember is the shooting in Santa Fe High School that happened in about 2018. It hit home, because my dad, one of his coworkers had a child who went to that school. Thankfully, the child was unharmed, but that’s when I realized like, “Wow, this is a very pertinent issue.”

And of course [there is] lots of gun ownership in Texas, compared to a lot of other states. So, that’s definitely an issue I find important to me.

Looking back at a more national, if not global issue, it’s definitely climate change and the environment.

It’s like every single summer, every single August—we had Hurricane Harvey, Katrina, we had Ida, we had Rita—it’s just the amount of hurricanes. Obviously, I’m not pointing to hurricanes as simply a climate change issue, because it’s a lot more complex than that. But definitely climate change is a huge issue. 

NWAW: How do you think your background or experiences shape your views on the candidates and issues?

I’m a Democrat, and that is definitely shaped by my family. Not only in my immediate family, but in my extensive family, too.

A lot of the values that I find important—pro-choice, gun control, stuff like that—are definitely kind of what’s been — I wouldn’t say taught to me, because I don’t want to make it seem like I haven’t done my own research and I’m just kind of listening to what my parents say, because I definitely have done my own research. But that’s just a symptom of me growing up and doing my own research.

But I think that’s just the family I’ve always been in. My family, as a whole, is very civically engaged. My mom is a pediatrician, so healthcare is definitely one of the things that matters to her. And you know, when she tells me stories of [seeing] kids [who have gotten] shot in the hospital … it really pains me.

At the high school that my sister went to, in her grade, a guy … shot a gun, but he didn’t know it was loaded, and he ended up dying on the spot. And that was maybe two miles from my house at a high school that all of my cousins had been to. So I’ve just had a lot of personal experiences that shape the way that I see policy. 

I’m not going to say I agree 100% with Kamala Harris, because I think  it’s very hard to agree 100% with anyone.

We should have our own opinions, we should have our own values. But that is why I lean towards Kamala Harris. And I see her as a woman, and as a woman of color in both regards—as an African American and an Indian American.

I think the time is now. If so many other countries can have women presidents or women leaders, and leaders of color, then why can’t America? If we claim to be this great democracy, this great republic, why have we only had male presidents for 250 years, and why have we only had one black president? I think the time for change is now. 

And I mean, I don’t want to talk too negative about Donald Trump, because I don’t want to sound very polarized. But I do think some of the values he stands for, such as completely closing off certain borders, and limiting the amount of immigrants, not supporting gun control, limiting access to abortion, stuff like that—although it may not be personal—I just wholeheartedly disagree with those issues.

And I do think, in a sense, especially after January 6th, there are some—I don’t want to say it’s going to happen again, but there are some dangers involved. And we know it, because January 6th was crazy.

I think every side is guilty of political extremism. That’s just a symptom of how polarized our political system has become, especially in the last 10 years.

…

My political views aside … I think “threat to democracy” is a strong [phrase]. But we need to continue as a country, and we need to continue to be prosperous as a country. And we need to minimize this divisiveness.

I’m not saying Kamala Harris is the most central, or the most centrist candidate. I think Biden was more centrist, at least to me. But Trump represents a polarized and divisive political America that we should not strive towards, because that is inherently dangerous. 

NWAW: Do you think your vote will make a difference in the outcome of the election? And what would you say to somebody who’s like, “My vote doesn’t matter,” regardless of where they are?

I definitely fell into this camp. I was one of those people, even leading back to last year. …

I definitely saw a lot of voter apathy, and I think that’s one of the biggest things facing the kind of youth … like, “Hey, who cares? We’re screwed either way.”

And then be like, “What does it matter that I vote? Ultimately, it does come down to seven or eight states. So if you’re not in those seven or eight states, who cares?”

I am lucky to be in Michigan, which is a swing state. So … I do believe my vote matters … even if I voted in Texas, maybe less so, but I still think my vote matters, because, as I touched on earlier, there’s more than just the president.

There’s senators, there’s representatives, and even if you don’t have confidence in that, there’s city propositions. … A lot of propositions affect our day-to-day lives. It actually does play a huge part—taxes and school funding, stuff like that—you have a direct impact on that. 

So, yeah, I definitely do think I have an impact, and everyone has an impact, even if they don’t realize it. … You should know that you are making an impact.

…

We hear … a lot of “it’s your civic duty to vote. It’s your civic duty to vote. We should do it because we’re citizens.” 

Although that is a very good point, I do think it’s kind of overplayed a little bit. I think the biggest thing is, you have to convince people to vote because they want to make an impact. And that’s a psychological thing, too. You don’t do things that don’t have an impact on you.

You want to be directly impactful with things that will help you or advance you in some way. So that’s the biggest thing that I think people should do—you have to make it personal. … It’s up to you to determine how much you want your vote to matter. 

Plus, voter turnout is extremely important. So even if you don’t think your vote matters. … I never would have known about the complexities of voting until I voted.

Some of my friends are like, “Oh, I don’t know if I’ll vote. I don’t really know politics.”

I’ve tried to tell them like, “Okay, you don’t have to know politics, but do your research, see what kind of issues apply to you the most, and vote. Because even if you don’t vote four, eight, 12 years down the line, you have the experience and you’ve made an impact right now. And that’s what matters, because we’re living in the present.

We have to live in the present because we only know what the future holds in store for us. So you just have to vote now. You have to make your impact now because that is ultimately what’s going to lead to better things down the line.

And I’ve even talked to older people who’ve said, “I’m not going to be alive in 20 years. Why should I vote? The world is fine as it is, but who cares?”

So my appeal to other people and my appeal to everyone is: You don’t have to vote for yourself, but vote for your children, vote for your nephews, vote for the kids on your little league team, vote for your grandkids, because it’s their future. And my parents tell me this all the time.

They’re like, “We’re voting for you.”

I vote not only for me and not only because I want the world to be a better place in 40 or 50 years. … I’m voting for my grandkids and my great grandkids.

Vijay Arora

The Northwest Asian Weekly’s Carolyn Bick chatted with Vijay Arora, a college student in Houston, Texas, who just turned 18 in January of this year. Arora touched on the main issues he’s focused on in the election, and why, as a newly eligible voter, he has chosen to participate in the election. *This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

NWAW: How does it feel to participate in a presidential election for the first time, and in this one in particular?

It feels nice. I can make my voice heard, and not be on the sidelines anymore.

NWAW: Do you come from a family who is invested in politics and elections?

They’re more invested in more local and community stuff, but some of that stuff did relate to national issues, however, not directly.

NWAW: How did you prepare for the voting process? Did you seek out information about the candidates and issues?

I would just say there’s a lot of websites out there, and I think some of them are more credible than others. So, I know I spent time looking at websites that specifically told me which websites were both credible and what direction they leaned. Then, you can get an unbiased feel for the information on the candidates and go whichever way you best believe in with unbiased information.

NWAW: How many of your fellow younger voters do you think try to actively seek out unbiased information?

I think there’s people in both realms. I think there are people who just follow what their families do and follow what they see in more mainstream news. However, I do know a lot of people who do their own research and just look at the issues they believe in with good information.

I think I did learn [to seek out unbiased information] through [my family]. And then I know some of the classes in my school made sure to point out news source credibility and political leaning.

NWAW: How do you see national issues trickle down to a local level?

At the national level, things are slow to change. And at the local levels, that can be much more immediate and directed to certain issues in that local community.

A problem in one community might not be a problem in the other, so why would the national government waste time and resources fixing that one? But a local government can. I think it’s just about having your voice heard in the small area where you live, and then also reflected in the big country.

NWAW: What issues are most important to you?

I would say the three big ones are healthcare, gun policies, and climate change, just because I think they’re relatively new issues. Not to say like the economy hasn’t always been a problem, but it’s just this kind of up-and-down thing in the country. But these three [issues] are especially relevant, and for my generation will play a big role in what the country looks like in the future, and what policies we’ve set for both ourselves and the world.

NWAW: Can you unwrap that a little bit for me? How do you see them really shaping the future of the country?

So, for healthcare, I am looking to go into a medical field. I’m more interested in the topic generally, because I think whatever decisions are made on a national level have the ability to and probably will affect medical practice.

I want to just make sure that those issues are being dealt with not just from a political realm, but also a scientific realm, backed up by evidence and clinical data. And I think that also goes into climate change, where I do believe it exists, and I believe it’s a problem. I think the evidence shows that. I just am big on highlighting evidence over political propaganda, if you see what I’m trying to get at.

And then finally on gun policies, for that one, I would also say that evidence shows many things about having access to guns when your prefrontal cortex is not fully developed, and the less strict laws that exist in the U.S. than in other countries. So, I think just kind of looking at worldwide data of that and then making a more informed decision about how those policies should be in the U.S., as opposed to the free reign that [gun policies] almost have today.

NWAW: How do you think your background or experiences shape your views on the candidates and issues?

I’m from Pittsburgh, [Pennsylvania]. I currently go to school in Houston, Texas. And I think in Pittsburgh, we’ve seen a lot more issues about climate change.

In the winter, it’s normally cold [in Pittsburgh]. Snow is not uncommon. And in the past few years, we’ve gotten snow, like, once, during the season, or the temperatures have always been in the 60s. 

There’s an explanation for that, which is global warming. And that’s an issue that concerns us, because what would winter look like if it looks like something in the South? And then how does the South get even hotter? 

I also think gun policy is important, too. I know in our school district recently, they just installed their own police force, which is a little frightening—I mean, it’s understandable.

But it’s just that’s what the world has come to, and just how, unfortunately, school atmospheres have become. 

NWAW: How did these things become issues for you?

I think for most issues, it was just growing up. In terms of violence and gun policy, I worked in a research lab that dealt with youth and adolescents, and that was a frequent topic. So, I kind of got more exposure and learning through that.

But otherwise, I would just say literally just growing up, watching what’s going on around me, listening to parents and other trusted adults, and just learning the information.

NWAW: Do you think your vote will make a difference in the outcome of the election? What would you say to someone who doesn’t believe their vote will make a difference, or who is hesitant to vote?

I think since I’m from Pennsylvania, which is a big swing state, I think it does definitely make a difference. And I think that if someone says, “My vote won’t make a difference,” and then if the next person goes and says that, the next person goes and says that—that’s a lot of people who haven’t voted.

Maybe you don’t think it’ll make a difference, but I think it will overall.

I personally voted via mail-in ballot, which was really easy. I just did it at my home—filled it out and sent it back in the mail. And I know colleges [and some other] places around the country have off on election day, and they have places where we can go and vote and they’ll take us there and everything.

So I think it’s just becoming more accessible. And I think doing your civic duty and taking a few minutes or hours out of your day is not a big ask, and can have a potentially big impact.