Pennsylvania is set to play a crucial role in the 2024 presidential election, with experts suggesting that young voters could tip the scales.
West Chester University political science professor John Kennedy noted the unique engagement levels among young people this election cycle. This is an unprecedented situation, and young voters are really involved and engaged, he said.
Kennedy emphasized that in a tightly contested race, the influence of young voters could be significant. In a marginal race—like this one appears to be—they can definitely be the deciding factor. They might just be the biggest question mark regarding voting behavior, he explained. We could very well wake up after the election to find that younger voters were a key factor in the outcome.
CBS News Philadelphia spoke with students at West Chester University, and many expressed enthusiasm about voting and the potential impact of their participation. I’ve been getting more into politics since my senior year of high school, and I’m excited to vote, shared sophomore Patrick McManamon.
Sophomore Owen Dietrich remarked, I think this is the biggest election in U.S. history, so every voice matters. He plans to return home to vote on Election Day.
For some students, this election marks their first opportunity to cast a vote for president. “It’s important for everyone to get out there and vote. It’s one of the many ways you can share your voice and opinion,” said sophomore Dominick Lapa.
Kennedy highlighted the necessity for both political parties to focus on registering and engaging young voters. He pointed out that celebrities and social media play a role in this outreach, with an abundance of information now available online and on television.
This dynamic makes the race more interesting, compelling, and unpredictable, he noted. Many of these voters haven’t voted in the past, so there’s no record of their participation, Kennedy said. They often get screened out of voter models because of their lack of previous voting history, creating uncertainty around the election outcome.