Older Voters Concerned About State of Democracy

Syracuse N.Y. (DIA) – At the Hillside College and Career Center in Syracuse, voters came out on Tuesday to cast their votes in the Midterm elections – an election that could shift the power in Congress. There were voters of all ages, especially older voters who expressed their concerns about the current state of democracy.

Rae Kramer, 75, has been coming out to the polls since she was eighteen years old. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, women’s reproductive rights have been very important to Kramer. She said that in today’s political climate, the need to vote has become even more critical.

“Bad things happen to good people who don’t vote. It’s essential that we vote to create the kind of future and society we want,” said Kramer.

Vincent Juchimek has become disheartened by the tense political divide in the country and the rapid spread of misinformation. At 79 years old, Juchimek has seen how people’s belief in democracy has changed overtime.

“We’re an educated society and yet, we’re being taken in by this electronic and mechanical information that nobody verifies anymore, they go with what they see on a screen or what they hear,” said Juchimek.

Juchimek hopes that younger generations will do their research and consume information that is accurate and valid. He stressed to young voters that your opinion matters and encouraged young voters to use their power and get out and vote.

“You don’t have to carry a gun to protect democracy, you can do it with a ballot, you can do it with a pen, you can do it with writing, it’s just as important,” said Juchimek.