Since 1971, all U.S. citizens over the age of 18 have had the freedom to vote. It is a way for us to use our voices and be one for a strong government. We can control who goes in and comes out of office every four years, yet more than 100 million voters did not bother to show up to the polls in 2016 according to the Washington Post. That’s nearly 43% of our country that didn’t use their freedom to vote. 

The new generation of fresh voters will make a lasting impact if they vote. Gen Z alone makes up 27.7%. of the world’s population. They have grown up with a consistent influence  of news, social media, and there are few who remember a world before social media. 

Many people are planning to vote in person still while respecting the CDCs guidelines for Covid and being safe. Millennial and Gen Z (ages 18-28) could make up to 37.7% of the votes in the 2020 election by registering and practicing safe social distancing guidelines. 

In Maryland, all must register by October 13.

Josh Todd is someone who plans to vote in person safely on November 3. He is a senior who has grown up with social media and has used it in his advantage to educate himself and others. 

“Social media has overall changed my political opinions. When I was younger I mostly listened to what my parents believed as politically right and followed that. Over time, with social media, however, I have been able to research and fully develop my own political thoughts to better see the world around me in a new light,” said Todd.

This can create a huge impact on a person’s views because they are constantly shown what’s going on in the world. With just a few clicks someone could find out that there are more than  200,000 Covid deaths in America right now, or watch horrifying events such as police brutality or the California Wildfires in real time. These current events, while as horrifying as they may be, educate others, and they are spread through the internet. This newfound education has led so many people to see what is really going on in the world and shift their political support to a candidate they believe cares. 

“Social media has definitely impacted my current political views. Ever since the death of George Floyd and the Covid outbreak, my friends and I have used the internet to radicalize and educate ourselves on the current issues in the country,” said senior Nick Titus.

What has changed since 2016?

 Many social media platforms that spread news are encouraging their young audience to go vote. Instagram, Twitter, the Apple app store,  and local radio stations have all sent out messages to their followers giving them everything they need to know to vote.

The app store has a whole section dedicated to apps that help people access voting information. It is located at the top of their page and when you click on it, it takes you to a page of 5+ apps that can help you register and check your status. This provides information to young voters who may be confused. They have made the information relevant to each person’s district so there is no room for miscommunication.

It is evident that the media influences our democracy, and local news and media can have a big impact on local government and politics. When our local news stations and politicians fail to inform us where and when to vote, they can slip away and leave many people unaccounted for.

But now for the 2020 election, radio stations like DC 101 are informing people on how to register to vote. They are informing listeners through their station about the deadline to vote in Maryland, DC and Virginia. They have a web page with all available information on registering and are even encouraging voters to call in and share why they are voting this year.

Influencers are using their platforms to inform their young voters about the current political status and what they can do about it. These social media stars have young audiences that either didn’t vote in 2016, or are now eligible to vote in 2020. Media entertainers like Lizzo and Rainn Wilson have been spreading the word by posting, and interviewing politicians during quarantine. Since these artists are well known, they are trying to use their voice to connect with politicians such as vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

These links take teens to real sites where they can register in their state to vote, get an early ballot, or vote by mail. 

How has our local community been affected? 

There are many people running for local government positions in both Maryland and Frederick, yet remain unknown to so many. Their platforms are sm,all and when people vote, they often choose at random or don’t vote all all because they don’t know who anyone is. This could impact both the candidates future and the stability of our local governments.

“I have researched a lot on the current political candidates both locally and nationally. The local candidates are often overlooked because they don’t have as much coverage in the media, but that doesn’t demote their importance to our country,” said Titus. 

We often overlook our own communities when looking at what our population or citizens can do for our democracy. But many eligible students here at Linganore can make an impact through voting. Each citizen gets a say in our county, state, and country government and it only takes a few clicks to become a more educated voter.