Young voters set to make difference this election day

It’s election day at the Baldwinsville Public Library. Voters are lined up outside to take part in the 2022 Midterm elections. Governor Kathy Hochul is up against Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, while Democrat Francis Conole matches up against Brandon Williams in District-22.

This year’s midterm elections come at a time of uncertainty in America, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year. In Onondaga County, the election results may lie in the hands of first-time voters.

Alexa Thomas is a 19-year-old nanny from Central New York. This year marks the first time in her life that she will vote in a federal election.

“I’m really excited to be out in the polls today because of what’s happening with women’s rights and other things going on in the U.S. right now,” Thomas said. “It’s cool to be able to use my voice for the first time, and actually make a difference.”

Thomas’s sentiment reflects a larger desire of young voters to make a difference. Teenagers, with the help of the internet, have been a vocal part of American Politics. Now, many young activists are eligible to vote. With the controversy of women’s reproductive rights at the forefront of today’s elections, Generation Z might be the deciding factor.