Will Voting Matter? My Friends and I Wonder

“I worry about  how my family will pay for the basics every day,” Michele Brooks, a salesperson for a Brooklyn tech company said. The 27-year-old and her family struggle with her father’s incurable illness and the medical bills. Most are taken care of by Medicaid. Healthcare and health insurance are big issues for her in the presidential election and she wants to hear more from former President DonaldTrump and Vice President Kamala Harris. “I would like to  know how they plan to safeguard and broaden insurance coverage. For someone like my dad,  survival is more important than coverage,”

Young working women we interviewed feel uncertain about the future and they point to economic issues that hit home and the unstable geopolitical environment. The economy is the key issue for them and they see the problem in the grocery store. “Going grocery shopping is like getting a slap in the face every time,” Sara Moise,  a 25-year-old Queens spa manager from Queens said. Her voice was laced with annoyance when she explained, “I feel like I’m working harder just to keep my head above water because prices are  skyrocketing. I’m concerned that my salary won’t go far enough to pay for necessities.” 

They wonder about whether voting makes a difference. “I’m feeling so disillusioned that I might not even vote this year. It feels like my concerns  are falling on deaf ears,” 29-year-old Jenny Zafer said.

That’s me on the right with Jenny Zafer

She works the front desk at a Brooklyn hotel. She hasn’t heard answers from the candidates on big issues. “I would like to know  how the candidates intend to handle domestic issues like inflation while maintaining our national  security,” she said.  She is concerned because she thinks there is a clear correlation between global safety and  economic stability. “How can we defend ourselves and help others if we are unable to fix  our economy?” she asked.

Michelle and Sarah will probably vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, but they continue to wonder if their voices will be heard.