'I think that we have a lot of social issues that still need to be addressed.': Insights from a young voter

WNYC News

An estimated 8 million Americans will come of age to vote by the November election. WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk recently collaborated with the group YVote to gather insights from young people who can cast a ballot in a presidential race for the first time this year. In this segment, we hear from Brooklyn resident Emmanuel Annan, Jr.

Emmanuel Annan, Jr:

I am currently 18 and a half years old, and I'm from East New York, Brooklyn, New York.

I think previously when Biden was still in the race, the biggest concern for me was I kind of felt apathetic because I still felt like I was not being represented by either choice. And I think that we have a lot of social issues that still need to be addressed. Last year, I spent a lot of time focusing on economic mobility, and I still think that rings true as the issue that kind of matters the most to me. The second issue that rings true to me is racial and overall equitable justice for all. We're still in a time where rights are being lost, people are still caring for their lives, and we're still in a time where people take things for granted.

But I do hope that people, in general, are less polarized. We have a lot of conversation shutdowns, or like, you can't be friends with us, or you can't sit with us if like, you have different beliefs than the next person. And I do get like, hate speech, that's a different category, but just in general, if you guys have different opposing beliefs, then I do hope that we can kind of sit down and not end friendships and, you know, that type of stuff over different beliefs. I think in general, I do hope that we do get a lot more justice, but also that people tend to look inside themselves and really look at, you know, what they care about and how they can make a difference in their communities.

My mom's side is from the Deep South, and voting is important to me. Looking at our ancestry, it'd be quite a slap to the face not to vote, especially since we have done so much to get the rights to vote, and it's your time to speak up and voice your opinion Like, 'Hey, I don't like what's happening here,' or suggest a new candidate. Voting is especially that crucial time to make sure that your voice is heard.