By Onnie Stone
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a tight race, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump nearly tied in recent polls. To gauge each candidate’s chances, we can look to swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. With 41 million members of Gen Z being of voting age in time for Election Day, young voters will wield more electoral power than ever before. So, what does this mean for student voters?
Pennsylvania’s Youth Voter Challenge
Pennsylvania is seen as key to election victory, but youth voter registration has dropped 15% since 2020. A last-minute surge in young people registering to vote will need to happen if Gen Z hopes to have an electoral presence in the keystone state. As it stands now, Gen X and Baby Boomers have the biggest electoral presence in Pennsylvania.
Michigan’s Growing Youth Vote
Comparatively, Michigan has seen the highest increase in youth voter registration in the country. Since Election Day in 2020, Michigan has had an 8% increase in people ages 18-29 registering to vote. This is the highest increase of all U.S. states surveyed, making Michigan the prospective voice of Gen Z in the 2024 election.
Next to Pennsylvanians, Michigan voters have an especially important role in deciding the next president of the United States. But it’s hard to say which party has the lead in the Great Lakes State. In 2020, Joe Biden won Michigan by less than 3%, where Trump won by less than 1% in 2016.
Saginaw County: A Battleground for Young Voters
How Saginaw county votes in the upcoming election could determine which candidate wins the race. Saginaw voters are virtually evenly split between Democrat and Republican. So whichever candidate appeals more to independents and typical third-party voters will have a better chance of winning the election.
42% of Delta College students live in Saginaw county. The community college was recognized for engaging students in the 2020 presidential election, and has made recent efforts in increasing student voter registration. Students at Delta College, Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University and other surrounding colleges will have tangible influence in determining the next president of the United States.
But, none of this matters if Gen Z doesn’t show up to vote.
Every Vote Counts–No Excuses
Fortunately, there are many ways to vote in this election, making it easy for registered voters to participate. Registering to vote is easy and can be done early or in-person on Election Day. With Election Day fast approaching, it’s crucial to start preparing your ballot today.
