An article in the New York Times said it best:
Gen z is the generation that calls everyone else “cringe”— but they’re also getting active and exercising their rights.
NewsVision’s Brandon Horton went on the campus of the University of Maryland to hear what college Gen Zers had to say about this year’s election cycle.
Reporter track:
With the 2026 Midterm Elections approaching, young voters have an opportunity to make their voices heard. But getting college students to the polls remains a challenge. According to Tufts University, just 31 percent of college students voted in the 2022 Midterm Elections, highlighting the challenge of getting young voters to the polls.
Professor Guido Kuerstiner says voter participation typically declines during midterm elections.
“Probably voter participation generally declines. I don’t know if there… if there are any… is there any difference between Gen Z and the rest? I don’t know.”
But despite historically lower turnout, some students remain determined to participate. Prince George’s County native Kerry Techwei believes voting is an opportunity to make his voice heard.
“I think PG County has seen some, like, dysfunctionalities amongst representatives. People who aren’t supposed–are–who are supposed to be representing them aren’t or are using resources for personal gain. So it’s best to use kind of, like, my democratic powers of voting to kind of make an influence or make a change within the county that I want to see.”
“Yeah, but I feel like… I don’t know. I feel like a lot of younger people don’t vote that much, and I feel like if I do it, then it would, like, contribute to the demographic of young people that vote.”
For many UMD students, the issues on the ballot go beyond politics. It affects their everyday lives. And with election day near, the question is whether they’ll go to the ballots to make their voices heard.
In College Park, Maryland, this is Brandon Horton for hu NewsVision.
