Advertisement

Point taken: What, if anything, is motivating young voters this election season?

A voter fills out a ballot in the Massachusetts primary election on Sept. 6 at a polling place in Attleboro. (Steven Senne/AP)
A voter fills out a ballot in the Massachusetts primary election on Sept. 6 at a polling place in Attleboro. (Steven Senne/AP)

Sign up for the On Point newsletter here

Listen to the full voter roundtable here.

More than 70% of registered voters ages 30-41 don’t plan to vote in the upcoming midterms, according to a recent NPR/Marist poll. For voters 18-29, the number of those bowing out is even higher.

In our most recent Voter roundtable we spoke with young Americans about the direction they want to see the country move in, and whether they'll vote this election season.

We got many voicemails from young listeners on the topic. Here, some young listeners share their plans for the midterms:

Joe from Charleston, South Carolina

Joe is a young voter from Charleston, South Carolina. He says he will vote in the midterms.

My state is a very conservative state, and I think it is important that I do vote, to put in my own say. I do have my own issues with voting. However, I do find that the two-party system is not good, and I wish that we had more than just that.

Wallis in Grinnell, Iowa

Wallis is a 20-year-old college student living in Grinnell, Iowa. She says she is voting for Democrats “across the board” and also working to get out the vote on campus.

I don't think that voting can solve all of our problems. And I think that there are many more things that need to be done. But voting is still one of the most important, and one of the lowest effort ways to participate in our democracy.

And I do think, especially in local races, people underestimate how much influence we have in like local, state, House or state Senate races. And I am voting primarily to get those candidates into office, and to make change in my local community.

Nathaniel from Virginia

Nathaniel is 27-years-old and lives in Virginia. He said he will vote in the midterms because of one major issue.

The big thing that makes me want to vote is that I'm very, very worried about how seriously people are taking democracy. It seems like there's people who are bored of it.

And I always thought that was something that was foundational to who we are as a country. And it worries me to see politicians talk as if it's something they can sweep under the rug. And I don't like that.

Jiamei in Brooklyn, New York

Jiamei turned 18 in September. She told us she is registered, knows where her polling place is and feels it is her duty to cast a ballot.

If you look in current politics, it's a lot more of the elderly that are performing the duties, rather than young people like around their 40s or 50s. And now it's my turn. ... If you don't vote, then you're actually just giving up this very powerful tool.

Jiamei is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She says she doesn’t see Asian Americans represented like other minority groups when it comes to politics.

I feel like voting will get ... my culture exposed to the country more. And thus the government will see this group of people actively participating in the country. We are not that active in participating, especially in politics. So I felt like I don't want to become like that. I want my generation to be more active.

Sydney Wertheim Associate Producer, On Point
Sydney Wertheim is an associate producer for On Point.

More…

Advertisement

More from On Point

Listen Live
Close