TRACK: The recent presidential debates have proved that the election this year is very different. Besides the candidates, this race is unique because it’s Gen Z’s first opportunity to vote, which means that they were a huge target for politicians. Christi Thomas spoke with some members of the generation in New York about their opinions and concerns.
AMBI: Trevor Noah Reaction to debate.
TRACK: On Twitter and other social media sites Gen Z was buzzing with reactions like Trevor Noah’s after the final presidential debate on October 22nd. With over 8 million subscribers on YouTube and hundreds of thousands of views, Noah is increasingly popular with Gen Z and Millenials. His open mindedness and quick wits are definitely helping his case. One of the people I spoke to was Julia Varrichio, a member of Noah’s audience. She expressed that the debates didn’t really ease her anxieties about the upcoming election.
ACT: JULIA: I’m feeling uneasy about the election. Personally I don’t think either candidate is a worthy presidential choice, so I’m voting for the person that aligns more with my political stances. This has made it a little rough not with choosing who I’m voting for but more like my anxiety about what will come after the election.
TRACK: I also spoke with Jordan Eugene, who said that this country needs a leader, and that the pandemic hasn’t really affected his decision.
ACT: JORDAN E: This country is in need of a leader in these times especially in this coronavirus pandemic. This being my first time voting has not affected my decision. I felt the same way for the past four years about who is in office. The pandemic has also opened my eyes to see what people’s
priorities are and what they want for this country and how we treat other Americans.
TRACK: Michelle Zinger, who voted previously in local elections, said that even though social media didn’t impact her decision, it still played an important role during the presidential race.
ACT: MICHELLE: For the country I feel like social media is really important when it comes to elections, because most people tend to rely on social media to make their minds up. That’s how my mom does it, she’s not registered, she’s not gonna vote but she’ll go off of what people tell her to do so I feel like that’s the case with most people.
TRACK: Julia, on the other hand mentioned that she was using social media to keep up with the debates and said that it helped bring attention to a lot of important issues.
ACT: JULIA: I think social media played a huge role in the election as well as see a lot of social injustice and the parts of the presidential debate on my social media feed. I think it has caused a lot of tension between the two parties and politicized things that shouldn’t be politicized, like human rights. But it also sparked some change that needed to happen.
TRACK: Despite the rising concerns that social media may be a hotbed for misinformation, Jordan Brammer has accepted it for its importance and convenience.
ACT: JORDAN B: Social media is kind of my main news source, which is scary but also I’ve got to acknowledge that I’m a full-time college student. I intern part-time. I just don’t have time to fit news into my schedule when I can just catch it on Twitter.
TRACK: While voter suppression was another national concern online Jordan Brammer, Jordan Eugene and Julia Varrichio managed to vote in their own way without any issues.
ACT: JORDAN E: I voted actually two days ago in person and I do not know anyone who has faced any difficulties voting.
TRACK: Because of the pandemic, getting people their absentee ballots turned out to be a challenge for crowded places like New York City. Michelle Zinger in Brooklyn was of the many folks who dealt with such inconveniences.
ACT: Michelle: I’m voting by dropping off my absentee ballot on November 3 at my election day site. I didn’t really have difficulties well I haven’t voted yet but I did get sent the wrong ballot at first but that was when like half of Brooklyn got sent the wrong ballots. Because it was such a big mistake I didn’t have to do anything; they just re-sent it to me. None of my friends really had trouble, they just had to wait a really long time on the line which isn’t like a bad thing necessarily because that means more people are going out to vote. Those are really the only difficulties I’ve had.
TRACK: The members of Gen Z that I interviewed prioritized voting, in safe and legitimate ways. In the middle of a high-stakes election and a pandemic it’s important for the government to make that possible for its citizens. Hopefully next election season, ballots will be more efficient and early voting sites will be more accessible. For Baruch College, this is Christi Thomas in New York City.