Open Book: Don’t Underestimate Us
When It Comes To Democracy, Young Voters Will Show Up
By Anya Nitczynski
For the GPHN
About 10 years ago, I was informed that my 18th birthday would fall a few months after this year’s presidential election. I have been struggling to come to terms with this unfortunate fact ever since.
Luckily, a few of my friends of voting age have asked me to stand proudly on my soapbox come November, helping them reach an informed decision about who they will mark their ballot for on that fateful Tuesday this fall.
I am grateful that my friends trust my perspective as an avid political news reader and presidential debate-watcher. But the truth is that they’ll do just fine at fulfilling their civic duty without me. Unfortunately many have bought into a narrative I’ve noticed all too often in people my age — that the youth voter is uneducated, uninformed, and either regurgitates the politics they were raised on or doesn’t vote at all.
I don’t blame them for thinking this way, especially considering how intense the political landscape has become over our lifetimes and how deep the fissions run between political parties. Many young people believe there are too many nuances and too many details they need to pay attention to, to vote. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Turnout has been increasing among young voters over the last few major election cycles. This November will not be an exception.
This election is an interesting one, to say the least. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made it further and garnered more support than most of us thought possible for a third party presidential candidate. Nobody in my social spheres takes him all that seriously, but the notion that there is a “third option” is an encouraging sign for the future.
A surprising number of my friends felt very strongly that Joe Biden should have remained the Democratic nominee after the first presidential debate. Now that Biden has officially dropped out, our attention has shifted toward Kamala Harris. It is encouraging for us to see a candidate who is younger and easier to see ourselves in. Beyond the relatability aspect, we would just like the candidates to be nicer to each other and hope this ushers in a new era of kindness.
In recent times my peers have seen and experienced levels of division and political violence beyond fathom — from the Jan 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to last month’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Personally, I am sick of living through moments I know will end up in history books as examples of major American turmoil.
For young people, it is terrifying to see undemocratic violence play a role in our political landscape. It is even more terrifying to see the unempathetic blame-game that inevitably follows. It is unacceptable to allow young generations to believe this is normal. Candidates once shook hands at the end of a debate and willingly left the Oval Office when their term ended. It is possible for them to do so again.
The youth vote is not an elusive force or an unpredictable phenomenon. Most young voters have faith in our democracy. When encouraged to make their voices heard, young people will show up. They will cast votes — and will probably be more eager to do so for candidates that see themselves in. Don’t underestimate us. And we shouldn’t underestimate ourselves.
Anya Nitczynski is a rising senior at Denver School of the Arts. Her column appears regularly in these pages.