As Gen Z continues to age, the majority of its members are eligible to vote in this election. But what are they voting for?

From The Epoch Times. The 2024 presidential election is the first in which the majority of Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012 and currently aged between 12 and 27—will be eligible to vote. …

View Comments (5)

This content is supported by your donations.
Give today.

Gen Zers make up roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population. But they’re greatly outnumbered in voter registration by older generations: An April study found that fewer than 40 percent were registered to vote. …

And recently, they’re more politically divided along gender lines than ever before, as women trend toward Democrats while men trend Republican.

A New York Times/Siena poll conducted over the summer found a massive 51-point political divide between men and women aged 18 to 29, including the youngest millennials and the oldest Gen Zers. These women favored Vice President Kamala Harris by 38 points, while men favored former President Donald Trump by 13 points. …

With Gen Z on track to have its biggest political impact yet, The Epoch Times spoke to dozens of Gen Z voters across the United States. Here’s what they had to say about the impending contest.

It’s the Economy

The economy is the most prominent issue for Gen Z. Trump and Harris voters alike cited financial worries.

Rising grocery and fuel prices due to inflation, taxes, and housing were the preeminent economic concerns they listed. Others referenced jobs.

“I’m going to the grocery store, almost breaking down, because why are five things $70? It doesn’t make sense,” Kaitlyn Glover, an 18-year-old nursing major at Kennesaw State University, told The Epoch Times. …

Many young men listed anxieties, not only about the current economy but also about their long-term ability to provide for a family.

Nazir Mbami is 17 years old, but he’ll be 18 by Election Day. He plans to vote for Trump, listing two primary concerns: the economy and immigration. …

He and others mentioned home ownership as a long-term consideration.

Buying a home is a common source of anxiety among Gen Z. One survey of the cohort found that 54 percent worry they’ll never be able to own a home, and 80 percent expect the market to get worse before they can. …

Abortion

For many Gen Z women who spoke to The Epoch Times, access to abortion is a leading concern. Several mentioned it as a top issue. …

Harris has sought to capitalize on a pro-abortion message.

Eighteen-year-old Amon Matar-Philpot, a student at Georgia’s Kennesaw State University, told The Epoch Times that she takes a hardline stance in favor of abortion access under basically all circumstances.

“Even if a woman has an abortion ‘just because,’ that’s her right,” she said. …

While most men listed the economy as their top issue, a few planning to vote for Harris also listed abortion as a top priority. …

Gender Divide

Many Gen Zers who spoke to The Epoch Times have noticed the rise in polarization between men and women in their generation—particularly online. …

They’re also increasingly divided by education. Government statistics show that as of fall 2021, women’s college enrollment exceeded men’s by nearly 20 percent.

Several young voters linked this rising polarization to social media, where both genders increasingly spend their online time in gendered spaces that appeal primarily to one sex or the other. …

Many referenced male-dominated online spaces, pointing to names such as Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and Joe Rogan—influencers overwhelmingly followed by men.

Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), both made appearances on Rogan’s popular podcast in the final days before the election.

Young women often congregate in more feminist-oriented spaces.

Podcasts like “Call Her Daddy” appeal to many young women, and Harris targeted them by making an appearance on the show. …

Chamberlain chalked up much of the polarization to the different interests each sex has in politics.

Women are far more interested in social issues—not only abortion but also race, sex, and sexuality-related issues. Men tend to care more about the economy, and many have been turned off by Democrats’ focus on social issues.

With so much time spent on social media, the youth of America are vulnerable to propaganda and misinformation. Share your prayers and scriptures for Gen Z below.

(Excerpt from The Epoch Times. Photo Credit: Ernest Brillo on Unsplash)