by Fatuma Hilowle
The 2020 election is one of the most anticipated events in the life of the new generation of Americans.
Generation Z or Gen Z comprises those born after 1996. Unlike their predecessors, millennials, Gen Z may be the most diverse generation yet.
Gen Z is on track to becoming the most well-educated generation yet and are just as progressive as they are pro-government, according to the article “What We Know About Generation Z So Far” by Kim Parker and Ruth Igielnik,
Experts predict that Gen Z voters will impact the 2020 Election.
“My family is from the segregated South,” said Keondre’ Jackson. ”We fought for civil rights, freedom and equality, so I feel like if they had to fight for their constitutional rights then I should not take it for granted.”
The 2020 election will be Jackson’s fifth time voting and takes him back to his first time voting during the 2016 election between current president, Donald Trump and the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
“I was not pleased with the results,” Jackson said. “I like to claim to be a moderate Democrat, and although I can see certain points of views for the Republicans, my morals will always trump my thoughts on money.”
Jackson takes pride in his civic engagement. He attended former President Barack Obama’s second presidential inauguration and met Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. He also attended the General Assembly at the United Nations in 2014.
“The man with the suit will steal more from you than the man with the gun,” Jackson said about politicians.
In order to create an equal balance and to be order, Jackson said he believes someone should be the tribal leader [the president] to control the people, make sure that there is a separation of state and church and ensure there is not an anarchy.
“My generation has the power to change the world,” Jackson said. “Sins of the father go to the son. We have to atone for the sins of your forefathers to turn the country around and to do that, we have to be engaged because if we don’t partake in politics, voting and the sharing and gaining of true information, we are doomed.”
Sticking to his civic duty, Jackson took work off on Election Day to vote in the morning and drove other voters without cars to their polling places.
“Regardless of the results of the votes tomorrow, we are experiencing the end of democracy as we know it in our lifetime,” Jackson said. “I believe if he [the current president] gets a second term, he will not leave. His abuse of power, xenophobia, islamophobia, and sexual misconduct will continue to stop him from doing his job.”
Come Wednesday, Keondre’ Jackson said he hopes to wake up to a state represented of the people that he knows and the culture that he is so accustomed to.
Unlike some members of the generation who have voted before, there is huge sum of Gen Z who will experience their first time voting in this election.
“If I do not feel comfortable enough to vote for someone because I do not know enough about them,” said Roma Lundy, a University of Nebraska at Omaha senior. “How can I vote.”.
As a non-partisan voter, Lundy said she knows what it is like to be stuck in the middle of the election with hesitation for both political parties.
Lundy said she feels suffocated with the bombardment of information this election cycle. Whether it was through text messages, phone calls, advertisements, billboards, yard signs or conversations with family and friends, there was an abundance of information.
“I am not into politics like that,” Lundy said. “But then it comes down to it, each political party wants to be ‘for the people’.”
Lundy said she back tracked her decisions when she educated herself on some policies and values held by both presidential candidates.
“My vote is influenced by what they want to do, their policies, their actions before presidency and during,” Lundy said. “If you truly want to change something specific, you would do it way before trying to be president and advocate for change.”
The biggest leading factor in Lundy not voting stemmed from the results of the 2016 presidential election when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Donald Trump won the presidency because he won the Electoral College.
“With the Electoral College, it encourages people to want to vote,” Lundy said. “There were so many ads on voting and voting early but we must modify our voting system to comply with our newer population and way of life.”
Other factors included lack of time, procrastination on her end as a student and employee in terms of voting early and her not wanting to expose herself to the coronavirus by waiting in line come election day.
Regardless of whether she votes, Lundy said she knows the weight that a single vote hold and is in favor of change that is best for the American people. “We are supposed to be a melting pot,” Lundy said. “I want to see a solution to issues like immigration, proper police training, a reviewal of government policies and modernization, diversity in political positions and overall cultural competence.”
