Attendees at the Youth VoteFest voter engagement event, hosted by the UChicago Institute of Politics in partnership with the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, at the Epiphany Center for the Arts on Aug. 21, 2024. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Brooke Jenkins and Katherine Bradley sat at a table together for a voter engagement event being held near the site of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon.
Even though they’re not even old enough to vote in the upcoming election — both will still be 17 years old — a passion for civic engagement brought them to attend the Youth VoteFest event, which aims to mobilize more young people to be involved in the electoral process.
“I’ve always been super interested in history, and this is history in the making,” said Bradley, a student from Minnesota. “I’ve always been super interested in getting my peers and classmates to be able to vote, because I can’t.”
Bradley said the issues that are top of mind for her include the war in Gaza and stopping Israel’s occupation of Palestine, in addition to protecting abortion rights.
Young voters and to-be voters gathered for the event in the West Loop at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, a half-mile away from the United Center, where the DNC is being held.
From left, Brooke Jenkins, 17, and Katherine Bradley, 17, attend Youth VoteFest at the Epiphany Center for the Arts on Aug. 21, 2024. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
The event, hosted by the UChicago Institute of Politics in partnership with the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, included speakers and a series of voter engagement workshops. Trainings were on topics such as building inclusive voting coalitions on college campuses; messaging during polarized times; and running high school voter drives.
Featured speakers included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Illinois) and former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois). Organizers hosted a similar Youth VoteFest last month in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention.
Jenkins, who is a student at Jones College Prep, said her top issues include protecting gender-affirming care and LGBTQ+ rights, and equity across neighborhoods in major cities like Chicago.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has leaned into memes and Gen Z trends on social media to try to appeal to younger voters, whether it be through branding with inspiration from Charli XCX’s “brat” album or selling camouflage “Midwest princess” hats, in reference to Chappell Roan.
Jenkins said it’s an effective strategy to mobilize more young people to vote.
“I think it’s all really funny, and it makes the candidates actually more like people,” Jenkins said. “Like as Tim Walz, as Midwest princess, I love that. I love Chappell Roan, so I guess I love Gov. Tim Walz now.”
Henry Huschke, 21, a student at the University of Chicago, will be voting in his first presidential election.
After feeling disappointed in President Joe Biden’s campaign and feeling resigned to a second Donald Trump presidency, Huschke said he feels hopeful about the future now with Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz stepping in the race.
Henry Huschke, 21, attends Youth VoteFest on Aug. 21, 2024; the event aims to mobilize more young people to be involved in the electoral process. Huschke, a student at the University of Chicago, will be voting for his first presidential election in November. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
According to a recent report by UChicago Institute of Politics and GenForward, there’s enthusiasm for Harris among certain constituencies such as Black young people and women of color, but the race is tight even among young voters.
Huschke said the issues top of mind for him include protecting democracy, creating more affordable housing and supporting renewable energy and the environment.
“There’s a lot more enthusiasm than I’ve ever seen — even people that are usually like, ‘I don’t care about politics,’” Huschke said.
But Maxwell Ruzicka, 25, a research associate at the nonpartisan organization Vote Smart, isn’t seeing as much of his peers tuned into this year’s presidential election.
“At least for people that I know, they have other stuff going on with lives,” Ruzicka said. “They’re busy right now with fantasy football drafts, getting ready to go back for their master’s degree…. It’s not that they’re not interested, it’s that they have other stuff taking up their mind.”
Danny Fersh, communications director of the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, said an underrated aspect of mobilizing more young people to vote for the November election is helping them feel seen.
“(Young people) really care a great deal, but some people tend to dismiss them when the numbers show that they are a growing voting bloc and increasingly influential,” Fersh said.
There also needs to be a bigger focus on teaching young, first-time voters about the mechanics of voting, Fersh added — such as how to register and the different ways to vote, whether it be voting by mail or in-person, voting early or on Election Day.
Youth VoteFest was a day of programming that featured speakers and a series of voter engagement workshops in Chicago on Aug. 21, 2024. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Joanna Adjei, 24, is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago who now works at the gun violence prevention organization BUILD in Chicago. This upcoming November will be her first time voting in a presidential election.
Adjei said she will be voting for Harris, adding that it’s a dream for her to vote for a Black woman for president. Adjei said women’s rights, immigration and gun control are the issues that are top of mind for her.
“I think my generation, generally, we’re one of the most liberal generations ever,” Adjei said. “One critique I do have is that we feel like a candidate has to be perfect. … I think a person doesn’t have to check off every box just now because we have four years to get them to do what we want to do.”
“I think we all feel how important this election is,” Adjei continued. “I feel like my life is on the line. I feel like my children’s lives are on the line.”
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
