Skip Voting? Skip Your Future—Millennials & Gen Z, Wake Up!

The 2024 presidential election isn’t just another political milestone—it’s your moment of truth. Millennials and Gen Z now make up 48.5% of eligible voters, giving your generation the collective power to shape national policy. Yet in past elections, many young voters stayed home, citing disillusionment with the political system. If you let this trend continue, older generations—who won’t face the same long-term consequences—will decide policies that define your future.

According to the CIRCLE survey from Tufts University, 31% of young people remain undecided about voting in 2024. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity: campaigns have room to earn your vote, but if youth turnout remains low, policies favoring older wealth-holders, who prioritize different issues, will dominate​.

MakeYourChoice_Vote

What’s at Stake: The Real Impact of Sitting Out

• Economic Survival Depends on Your Vote

  
  Young Americans are at a breaking point with stagnant wages, rising rents, and crushing student debt. In fact, 53% of young voters rank inflation and the cost of living as their top concerns for the 2024 election​ Civic Engagement Research Center.

  With skyrocketing rents, many Millennials and Gen Zers are being priced out of housing markets, while homeownership feels more like a dream than a goal​. Add to this the ongoing student debt crisis, which weighs heavily on young people trying to build financial stability.

  Voting offers the power to push for policies that prioritize debt relief, affordable housing initiatives, and jobs that pay a living wage. Without your participation, policymakers will continue to cater to older voters, whose financial interests often lie in preserving high property values and opposing aggressive debt relief policies​.

Broken Savings, Scattered Dreams

• Climate Change Won’t Wait for the Next Election

Your generation has been the driving force behind environmental activism, leading movements to demand climate action. However, meaningful climate policy hangs in the balance, with many older voters placing far less priority on environmental concerns. Climate change isn’t a future problem—it’s unfolding now with extreme weather, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation. The choices made by today’s policymakers will determine whether we avoid the worst-case scenarios or face irreversible damage by the time you’re in midlife​.

If you don’t show up at the polls, the momentum for climate-friendly policies will falter. Your vote can help elect leaders who prioritize clean energy, carbon reduction, and environmental justice.

• Civil Rights on the Line

Fight For Your Right

Your generation stands at the forefront of social justice movements, fighting tirelessly for reproductive rights, racial equity, and gun control. Black youth in particular have led efforts to combat gun violence and systemic racism, reflecting the urgency of these issues in communities directly impacted by them​. But these hard-fought battles are under serious threat. States across the U.S. are already tightening abortion restrictions, rolling back voting rights, and weakening environmental protections, putting the progress made by your generation at risk​. 

The uncomfortable truth is that many older voters—who aren’t directly affected by today’s most pressing civil rights issues—are the ones voting to restrict your rights. They grew up with access to reproductive healthcare, affordable education, and stronger social safety nets. Yet now, these same voters are backing policies that limit the freedoms available to Millennials and Gen Z. Without your participation, these choices will continue to shape your life—but not theirs.

By not voting, you allow power to remain in the hands of those who may not share your values or understand your struggles. Protecting LGBTQ+ rights, racial equity, reproductive healthcare, and environmental justice requires ongoing political participation to prevent regression and push for meaningful change. Voting isn’t just an act of protest; it’s a tool to build a future that reflects the ideals your generation has fought for.

Why Aren’t Millennials and Gen Z Voting in Larger Numbers?

Many young voters feel disillusioned by political polarization and broken promises. Conversations on Reddit reflect widespread frustration, with users questioning whether individual votes even matter. Some believe the system is rigged or indifferent to their needs, leading to disengagement​

The Berkeley Institute for Young Americans highlights that young people prioritize policies over party loyalty, which can make it harder to connect with traditional candidates or platforms​.

However, not voting only reinforces the status quo. Older generations—who show up consistently—continue to shape policies that serve their interests, not yours. Student loans, abortion rights, and public education are just a few of the areas where silence gives others control over your future. Every missed vote is a win for those in power—and a lost chance to push for change that matters to you​.

Voting Has Never Been Easier—Get It Done

While voting might feel overwhelming, it’s easier than ever to participate. Whether you’re balancing work, school, or personal commitments, tools like early voting, absentee ballots, and online registration are here to simplify the process.

• Early Voting—Skip the Election Day Rush: Many states now allow you to vote early, eliminating the need to fit everything into a single day. This way, unexpected conflicts or long lines won’t prevent you from participating.

• Absentee & Mail-In Ballots—Vote from Home: Prefer to vote remotely? Absentee ballots make it possible, whether you're traveling or avoiding crowds. Drop-off locations also ensure your vote gets counted securely.

• Online Registration—Quick & Convenient: With online portals, registering takes just minutes. Sites like Vote.gov guide you step-by-step based on your state’s rules.

• Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)—Simplifying the Process: In many states, AVR automatically registers you when you interact with government agencies like the DMV, unless you opt out. This boosts participation by removing a common barrier​

You don’t need to be an expert on every issue—resources like BallotReady let you compare candidates on topics like climate change, student debt, and economic policy, helping you vote confidently based on your priorities​

Every vote matters. Use the tools available to you and make your voice count in shaping your future.

Your Vote, Your Future: What Happens if You Don’t Show Up

Skipping the polls isn’t an act of defiance; it’s an act of surrender. By not voting, you allow others to decide policies that affect your paycheck, your rent, and your planet. Think of it like this: Would you let your grandparents pick your Spotify playlist? No? Then why let them dictate your future?

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The 2024 election isn’t just about political parties—it’s about your life, your future, and your voice. Whether you’re skeptical, undecided, or frustrated, voting is the only way to take back control and push for the changes you care about. This election belongs to those who show up. Will you?