Young voters weigh in ahead of midterm elections

Students walk across the University of Minnesota campus ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Young voters say issues such as immigration, health care and LGBTQ+ rights are motivating them to participate in the election. Photo: Lizzy Nyoike

With the Nov. 3 midterm elections approaching, young voters at the University of Minnesota are preparing to cast their ballots. Some are participating in their first general election, while others are returning to the polls with new concerns about the country’s political future.

For students, the upcoming election is an opportunity to weigh in on issues affecting their communities, exercise their right to vote and have a say in decisions that could shape the future.

Cal Klein, a University of Minnesota freshman from Arizona, said this year’s election marks his first opportunity to vote in a general election after participating in the primaries.

“I have been following politics for the past few years, really since 2020,” Klein said. “It's refreshing now that I actually get to have my voice heard.”

Klein said campaign financing plays a significant role in how he evaluates candidates. Rather than relying solely on campaign promises, he researches political donations and the organizations contributing to candidates’ campaigns.

He said he used the Political Integrity Project, an online resource that compiles campaign finance information, to help inform his decisions during the primary election.

“I feel like the way you can tell what candidates actually stand for, what they're actually going to do while they're in office is based on who's giving them money,” Klein said.

Although Klein votes in Arizona, he said he is closely following Minnesota’s elections. His biggest hope is that voters across the country can exercise their right to vote and participate without disruptions or interference.

Xander Croson, a University of Minnesota sophomore, is also preparing for his first general election after being too young to vote in the 2024 presidential election.

Croson said he researched candidates through party endorsements, campaign financing and conversations with friends before voting in the primaries. For Croson, political participation is particularly important because of how government decisions affect people's identities and everyday lives.

“You can't not do politics,” Croson said.

He pointed to concerns involving immigration enforcement and LGBTQ+ rights as reasons he believes young people should remain politically engaged.

Croson said he plans to vote on Election Day and hopes to see strong voter turnout.

“It's better to just take an hour out of your day for the potential future,” Croson said.

University junior Zahwia Abdiwahab said immigration and affordable health care are among the issues motivating her to encourage young people to vote. Abdiwahab specifically urged Somali American voters to participate and examine how candidates have responded to issues affecting their communities. She pointed to Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, as an example of why she believes voters should examine elected officials’ actions.

“Civic participation actually matters way more than you think it does now,” Abdiwahab said.

She also encouraged students to conduct independent research into candidates rather than relying on outside political influences.

As Election Day approaches, the students expressed different concerns about the election process and political leadership but shared an emphasis on participation and staying informed.

For Croson, that means showing up at the polls regardless of how certain the outcome might seem.

“Just go vote,” Croson said. “Don't put us in the same situation we were in two years ago.”