Democratic National Convention Report

It had been a chaotic morning, after taking the Chicago Green Line to rendezvous with Ms. Michelle Mayans, the Executive Director of Kid Scoop Media (KSM), I took a cab with questionable sanitation to the DNC security checkpoint, arriving on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention to cover the historic event as a youth journalist. From the newfound hope of the Democrats to the energy and excitement buzzing throughout the United Center, the Convention was more than the symbolic nomination of a presidential candidate--it was also a chance for the younger generation to see what the Democrats had to offer. With this in mind, I figured there was no one better to cover the significance of the youth vote than a young journalist like myself.

One of the most interesting aspects of the assembly was that the Democrats understood that the youth have the power to determine the election, and are counting on them to do so, despite their historically low and relatively small voter turnout. According to reports from Pew Research Center, voters aged 18-29 made up just 11% of voters in 2018, and 15% in 2020, and 10% in 2022.

One such example of the party's commitment to the youth is evident in former DNC Chair Tom Perez's response when I asked him whether the Democratic party had committed enough to reaching out to younger voters. Mr. Perez acknowledged that "young people consume their news differently" than older voters, and remarked that the Democrats "want to reach [young voters] where they are." Of course, this effort extends far beyond a simple concept of a plan. Ted Perry, a journalist for Fox 6 Milwaukee, confirmed that the DNC hosted "200 creators . . . who are on Tik-Tok and on Instagram" in an effort to reach younger voters that make up a large portion of social media users. And, for better or for worse, an increasing number of people are getting their news from social media, according to another study conducted by Pew Research Center.

Even though young people historically have voted at lower rates than older Americans, the Democratic party has been demonstrating its commitment to securing the support of the youth, not only in its unique outreach, but also in its policy. For instance, Colorado representative Manny Rutinel, a younger politician himself, mentioned in an interview that "the Democrats are painting a really great picture for what our future can be if we fight for the working class, if we fight for environmental justice, and fight against corporate polluters"-- all issues that are on the minds of many young Americans unsure of what the future holds for them. These issues coincide with Vice President Kamala Harris' promise to help first-time home buyers with a $25,000 down payment assistance program and her proposed expansion of child tax credit--policies clearly aimed at helping young adults in an increasingly expensive economy.

Throughout the DNC, it was made quite clear that the Democrats were focused on inspiring and encouraging young people to take action and vote for what they believe. And while voters under 30 have lower turnouts, Pew Research has found that of those that do, nearly 7 out of 10 support Democratic candidates. It's no surprise Democrats are focused on securing this demographic. Overall, the DNC highlighted the power of voting, from the strong impact of individual votes to the policy it will help to create. And perhaps most importantly, if there are any takeaways from the event as a whole, it's that your vote matters. So, by Tuesday, November 5th, make sure your voice is heard and vote!