An illustration shows two voting lines, one with older voters (left) and a shorter one with younger voters (right). In the past, voter turnout from younger Americans had been slim, with growth needed before the start of the 2026 midterm elections. “Although the majority of Clarke Central High School students can’t vote yet, everyone should take advantage of the opportunities given to them to learn about the voting process and register when they do become eligible,” Viewpoints Editor Violet Dockery wrote. Illustration by Mabel Vaughn
Young adults are participating less in elections in a time and political climate where voicing their opinions matters most.
Nearly 174 million people across the United States voted in the 2024 presidential election, according to the United States Census Bureau. Of those individuals, one group is missing: young adults.
Eligible voters under the age of 29 often face disconnect from campaigns, candidates and older voters, leading to voter apathy, which is defined as a lack of interest in participating in elections.
According to a study by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, which polled Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, “Half of young Americans now agree that, ‘People like me don’t have any say about what the government does.’ The sentiment crosses party lines: 53% of Democrats, 52% of Independents, and 48% of Republicans all feel voiceless.”
However, that absence of care for voting doesn’t mean young adults don’t have political opinions.
“As voters get older, they tend to turn out at much higher rates. Some of the reasons for this is because younger voters register less, they know less about campaigns (and) campaigns contact them less,” University of Georgia Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Laura Uribe said.
A graph shows the percentage of individuals who registered and voted across age ranges during the 2024 election, according to the United States Census Bureau. Graph by Lea D’Angelo
In the current U.S. political climate, which has unresolved international conflicts, inflation and economic pressure, young adults are navigating the “real world” in a time of difficulty. As a result, belief among the younger generation that government choices are being made based on the voices of the people is low, making them even less likely to vote.
Across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, members of younger generations share celebrity news and funny videos. Content about current events and political issues, however, is pushed to the back of users’ feeds. Dean Withers, a Generation Z political content creator and streamer, has created a fanbase of young people who share their political opinions online.
Young adults are participating less in elections in a time and political climate where voicing their opinions matters most.
However, young eligible voters may be hesitant to take the step to becoming politically active beyond their screen. People can voice their opinions in an online comment section with the click of a button, but physically stepping into a voting booth is a different story.
In order to increase voter turnout and political interest, schools and local communities should provide education on the practices of voting through classes like Advanced United States Government and Politics, which teach students about U.S. government processes before they even become eligible voters.
Although the majority of Clarke Central High School students can’t vote yet, everyone should take advantage of the opportunities given to them to learn about the voting process and register when they do become eligible. Those who are old enough need to show responsibility for themselves and their political opinions.
Now is the time to take action, however that may look.
Athens-Clarke County Deputy Director and Election Department Coordinator Lisa McGlaun poses out- side of the Athens-Clarke County Elections Department, located at 155 E. Washington St., on Sept. 23. McGlaun discussed how it’s important to inform the younger generation about the voting process. “If (student-voters) don’t understand how the voting process works and don’t understand how those decisions are made, you’re going to be pretty frustrated when you’re looking at your student loans trying to figure out what you’re going to do,” McGlaun said. Photo by Maypop Wren, graphics by Lea D’Angelo
A map shows polling locations around Athens, according to Athens-Clarke County. Map by Lea D’Angelo
A graphic shows Georgia United States Senator Jon Ossoff, D-GA, (left) and United States Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga (right). Webmaster Maya Pringle compiled each senatorial candidate’s basic political values. “Ossoff ’s campaign focuses on protecting children on online platforms, bolstering public safety and bolstering health care services for veterans,” Pringle wrote. “Collins’ campaign focuses on cutting unnecessary spending and removing regulations from small business owners.” Information compiled by Maya Pringle, photo illustrations by Emlyn McKinney, graphics by Lea D’Angelo
A graphic shows Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) and Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson (right). Webmaster Maya Pringle compiled each candidate’s basic political values. “Bottoms was the 60th mayor of Atlanta from 2018-2022 and the first mayor to serve in all three branches of Georgia government,” Pringle wrote. “Jackson is a Georgia businessman and philanthropist. Jackson Healthcare began in 2000, serving every state in the United States, and aiding in the process of caring for more than 20 million patients yearly.” Information compiled by Maya Pringle, photos by Grady Dunston and fair use of Wikimedia Commons, graphics by Lea D’Angelo
