Listen Here
By Kendall Westgate, WestgateK@Findlay.edu
As of 2024, the United States has approximately 203 million citizens aged 18 and older, according to Neilsberg. Of those 203 million citizens, about 186.5 million Americans are registered to vote for the 2024 election, according to USA Facts.
Citizens register to vote to get their voices heard on several key issues, like the economy, healthcare, immigration, abortion, crime and public safety, and climate change, just to name a few.
“Issues like rights to bodily autonomy and laws regarding the LGBT+ community are some of my biggest concerns,” University of Findlay senior Olivia Perry said. “I’m both a woman and a member of the LGBT+ community and I am tired of having to fight for my rights.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, opinions about abortion’s importance as a voting issue shifted. This year, 67% of Harris supporters consider the issue very important, while 35% of Trump voters say that the abortion issue influences their vote, according to the Pew Research Center.
Yet, the biggest reason causing Americans to vote is the economy, with about eight-in-10 registered voters stating that the economy is very important to their vote, according to the Pew Research Center.
“There are many issues causing me to vote in this upcoming election,” UF senior Lauren Rex said. “A few of these issues include the current price of living from groceries to house payments and rent on apartments, the wars going on in other parts of the world, and making the United States a safe place again.”
Many other registered voters head to the polls to exercise their civic duty, since they feel a sense of responsibility to participate in the democratic process.
“The biggest reason I am voting is to choose the next president of the United States, not necessarily one issue versus another,” UF junior Samantha Oriti said. “As a whole, I want my rights as a woman to be protected and my right to choose to be protected.”
Despite the many issues causing Americans to vote, UF students buzz with anticipation for the results of the impending election.
“This is the first time I am voting,” Oriti said. “I waited until this year as this is the first big election since I’ve been allowed to vote. I am excited to finally contribute to our democracy and be able to speak up for myself.”
For many college students, this is their first chance to vote in a presidential election, like Oriti and Rex shared.
“I am most looking forward to being able to vote,” Rex said. “This is my first presidential election where I will be legally allowed to vote and I am excited to exercise my right to do so.”
“I am nervous about what will happen after the results of the election are released. Regardless of who wins or what issues are passed or not, I am afraid to see how people will react,” Oriti said. “I think either way there is going to be a big reaction; I think there will be chaos and fighting. That makes me nervous for our country as a whole because I am afraid peace will not be achievable and who knows what will happen after that.”
