Editor’s Note: City on a Hill Press encourages all UC Santa Cruz students to exercise their right to vote on Nov. 5 in the general, state, and local elections.
Gen Z and Millennials represented around 40 percent of the eligible voting population in 2020, yet young people in the U.S. have historically voted at lower rates compared to older age demographics, according to a study from the Harvard Kennedy School. Fifty seven percent of eligible voters ranging from ages 18 to 34 cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau. While this number increased from 49 percent in 2016, the influence of young voters on election outcomes will likely grow as turnout increases.
City on a Hill Press reporters approached students on campus and community members downtown to conduct spontaneous interviews, asking interviewees if they were voting in the upcoming presidential election, for who, and why.
Interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Eden Leeman (she/they, Jewish studies major, fourth-year)
- Who are you planning on voting for and why?
- “At the moment I’m uncommitted. I cannot vote consciously for either the Democratic or Republican Party. I am leaning towards the Green Party, but I’m in strong solidarity with the Uncommitted National Movement, which wants to vote for Kamala Harris but needs policy change [from her] including a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo [to Israel]. Like many people of my age, I feel torn between the Green Party and the Uncommitted National Movement, as well as occasionally feel hopeless about voting.”
- You mentioned the Uncommitted National Movement, could you elaborate on what that is?
- “The Uncommitted National Movement is saying we want Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to be in office, but we cannot consciously vote Kamala in without significant change in policy. It’s an absolute shame that we will look [back] in 10 to 15 years and say, ‘Oh how terrible the Palestinians were killed’ and we’ll mourn them. We should do something about it now.”
Alyssa Ye (she/her, chemistry, second-year)
- Who are you planning on voting for and why?
- “Harris, because my beliefs align more with her policy. Her beliefs on women’s rights, like abortion, are what’s convincing me. Every candidate has their flaws, but I think her campaign strategy could be more professional. I think she’s really focused on only getting the votes of the younger generations and of women, but I think she should focus more on the general public, like older generations and different genders. I see her campaigns on some of my social media, and I feel like it’s obviously convincing and funny to me as a 19 year old, but if an adult was seeing that trying to decide who to vote for, I feel like that might steer them away from that. It seems like she’s not taking it as seriously as she could be.”
- What are your thoughts about the opposing candidate?
- “I don’t really agree with a lot of the things that Trump stands for and just [him] as a person. I feel like if I don’t like the candidate as a person, I don’t know how I would feel about having them be president again, and he’s a convicted felon.”
Harper Brada (he/him, politics major, second-year)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “I will probably vote for Kamala Harris. I haven’t done any proper research on third party candidates, but I do feel as a Californian Democrat voter, there’s a chance my vote could be better spent on a third party because in my mind, there’s no chance that California doesn’t go blue. I want to keep [the Democratic party] on their toes. I just feel like there’s this idea that they don’t have to [listen to young people]. They do much of their targeting towards undecided voters in swing states, that’s what works, but I would appreciate it if young voters were seen as not as much of a guarantee for them.”
- What issues/policies are most important to you?
- “In general, climate change stuff [is most important to me]. Wealth distribution issues are always an issue for me too. I like her housing credit [idea] — anything to help to get lower-income families into houses is good to me.”
Dana Borunda (she/her, double major: molecular, cell, and developmental biology/ critical race and ethnic studies, second-year)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “Harris isn’t my favorite person, I don’t love her or her political history, but I don’t want to vote for Trump. I think [I am voting for] Harris, but I like Cornel West’s stance on a lot of issues and his ideology. I really like his stance on Palestine, most of the Democratic party really isn’t trying to give a definitive answer on where they stand on that, and I think that’s a cop-out.”
- What else draws you to Cornel West?
- “I like his overall stance that you don’t have to like everyone, but you have to love everyone. I think that kind of culture is something we need right now. I also support his viewpoint on supporting students. UC chancellors took authoritative, extreme measures, and he didn’t have a problem comparing it to Kent State.”
Jack Hawley (he/him, psychology major, third-year)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “Kamala Harris. I really hate Trump, and I like a lot of her specific policies. I’m really against Trump’s policies, the entirety of Project 2025. I like what [Harris] brings, but I also just really hate what Trump brings. I don’t like what he says about women, I don’t like what he’s done to people … I don’t like that he blames everyone else for everything, I don’t like his little clan of followers. I don’t know too much about politics, but I know enough, especially with how Trump handled handing over power to Biden.”
- What issues and policies are important to you?
- “Climate change, healthcare and the border matter a lot to me. My family is Mexican. I am democratic, but I’m also a moderate. I believe in conservative values like family and God.”
Zoe Payne (she/her, biology major, fourth-year)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “Kamala Harris. I’d say a lot of people in our generation are frustrated about a number of things on the upcoming ballot. I am voting for her because of her stances on abortion and female health, and [Trump] has very strict and opposing beliefs to that, and that’s something that’s very important to me and has affected people I know. I know a few people who are considering voting, but not voting for president. No politician is perfect, and I think our generation really has to show up and vote.”
- What are the issues and policies that are important to you?
- “Something that’s really important to me is IVF access and gender affirming care. I identify as queer so it’s just something that’s on the forefront of my mind. It might not directly involve me, but a lot of my friends are really fearful about getting access to gender-affirming care in particular.”
Kailani Reis-Weiland (she/her, neuroscience major, third-year)
- Are you planning to vote and if so, who for?
- “I’m actually not sure [if I will vote or not]. I don’t know who to vote for and I feel like I’m not super well informed on the policies of both candidates. I’m kind of nervous that I’m gonna make a wrong choice and look back later and be like, ‘oh, I wish I didn’t do that.’”
- What specifically do you like about each running candidate?
- “[With] Kamala, I like the idea of having the first woman president. I think that’s important to happen at some point. I think generally I lean liberal with my ideals and my ideas, so I like a lot of the things that the Democratic Party stands for.”
- Do you believe in your ability to make a difference?
- “It kind of depends on what state you’re from [whether or not you can make a difference voting]. California is not a swing state, so the electoral college is gonna be Democrat no matter what. I think I would like to vote but I need to become more informed before I make the decision to do so. Everyone should make sure to do their own research. Don’t just listen blindly to what people say and make a choice based on that.”
James Lilja (he/him, game design major, first-year)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “[I will be casting my ballot for] Harris/Walz. I agree with more of the principles and decisions that are being made by them than the Republican Party. Walz was my governor for a long time, so I definitely am a big fan of his. I believe in reproductive rights. I like a lot of their anti-monopoly values, and less support for the rich.”
- How do you feel about Walz for Vice President?
- “I’ve seen Walz as somebody who’s been very liberal, very progressive, as someone who wants to support people. He seems a little closer to the people than a lot of other politicians have been. He’s kind of similar to us, more so than a lot of politicians have been with rich upbringings.”
Stan Welsh (retired, 35 years in SC)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “I will be casting my ballot for Harris Walz, because I believe in goodness and I believe in kindness and I believe in people who are smart, reasonable, [and] rational. I believe in a woman’s right to autonomy. I believe that Donald Trump is a liar and a cheater and I believe it could be the end of democracy if we let him back into office. I’m going to vote and I’m going to encourage everybody I know to vote.”
- Having experienced multiple eras of the United States, do these times feel unprecedented?
- “[The United States has] this incredible diversity, and that’s what makes the experiment so fabulous. It’s a time when the demographic is about to flip, and the Republicans are really concerned because the demographic is going to be progressive, it’s going to be inclusive, and it’s going to be for truth and dignity. If Kamala can win this election and move forward, especially if we can get the House and the Senate, then I think we’re maybe gonna move in the right direction and we can make some adjustments.”
Linda Cover (teaching artist, lives at the Tannery Arts Center, 15 years in SC, 30 years in Watsonville prior)
- Who are you planning to vote for and why?
- “I’ll be casting my ballot for Kamala. She’s got a good team. She believes in cooperation. I do too. I really want to wake up after the election and find that a woman, a woman of color, is the president. I support her 100%.”
- What would it mean to you to have a woman as president?
- “I’m also a teacher. It means that all my kids can look up and say, ‘well, look at that. We stand a chance,’ especially the young girls. It’s not the usual white guy, which is just fine, except now it’s time for other people to step in. We need to have people who represent more of the United States.”
- Do these times feel unprecedented?
- “I think it’s always unprecedented. At my age, I’ve gone through a lot of things, so just stay on course. What does your community need to be healthy and happy and thrive? That’s what you want to do. If you don’t get what you want, well just keep working on it, but stay engaged. This is not the time to drop the ball. If you don’t like it, go serve on a city council, go serve on a commission, go do volunteer work at the homeless shelter. Do something. Don’t just complain.”