The United States has seen a sharp increase in youth participation in the presidential election, with college students leading in mobilising their peers to vote.
This year, college campuses are buzzing with political engagement as students encourage one another to make their voices heard at the polls.
At Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, Andreas Pelekis, the campus newspaper editor, says student involvement in electoral issues has notably increased compared to the 2020 election.
Speaking to CITE, Pelekis highlighted the critical issues driving student interest, particularly reproductive rights and economic concerns.
“This year, we’re seeing more students at Lafayette actively participating in the election process. They’re encouraging others to vote, leading to a significant number of first-time voter registrations. I’m a second-time voter, and last election, we didn’t see this level of engagement among young people,” Pelekis said.
He attributes this shift partly to issues at the forefront of the election, including reproductive freedom. “Reproductive rights are a huge concern—laws passed could impact women’s access to healthcare, especially abortion. Then there’s the economy. Inflation has risen sharply, and the election outcome could shape young people’s economic futures,” Pelekis explained.
Pelekis noted that the race remains competitive between the main candidates, with differing stances on these issues.
“It’s interesting—Vice President Kamala Harris is pushing hard for reproductive freedom laws, while former President Donald Trump is known for maintaining economic stability during his presidency. These aren’t the only issues, but they’re factors that students are seriously weighing. Ultimately, it all depends on how people vote on Tuesday,” he said.
