Voters Wonder If Candidates Understand Their Concerns

Young voters want to be heard and have their problems acknowledged. They worry that regardless of the outcome of the presidential race there will be little change after the election. They feel neither party fully addresses the everyday issues Americans face. They are seeking a leader who will make their lives easier,  and reduce the cost of living,  “We need a candidate we can trust. It’s not really about what issues they could solve, but more about which issues they will prioritize and which issues they will sweep under the rug,” said Celine Buer, a student at McGill University in Canada. This November she will be voting for Kamala Harris in New York.  

Others want to know what the presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, will do about immigration. “If the government is going to allow a large migration of people, there needs to be a comprehensive plan in place to help them contribute to society,”  Enrique Benitez, a 30- year-old from Queens said. He cited the need for stronger control at the southern border, and more support for current citizens of the U.S., rather than giving federal funds to support migrants and new arrivals.

Celine Buer worries about the political polarization in the country and extreme positions. “In general, I feel like there’s a lack of balance between the two parties, which keeps politicians distracted from more pressing issues. In my opinion, the direction we are headed is even more partisan, where the citizen’s lack of privacy makes them vulnerable to propaganda, extremely biased media, and even false information,” she explained.

Similarly, Johnny Mendez, a chef and independent voter is leaning Republican in this election but believes both parties are too extreme.  He explained that, “People are just following blindly without delving deeper into issues within both political parties.” He worries that blurring moral and legal lines could infringe on certain rights. 

Voters also talked about the influence of corporations on politics. Serena Cooper, a student at The City College of New York (CCNY)) is concerned with the influence of big business in our policies and politics. She hopes that, “Within monopolized markets there will be an effort to enforce the laws already put in place to reduce such business giants.” She is also concerned about the impact these corporations have on the current climate crisis and wants the next president to take serious steps toward reducing emissions and promoting sustainability by, “Committing to the people of this country and their well-being. Not that of the military or those with large financial resources.”