As the 2024 presidential race kicks into high gear, an already unorthodox election is dominating conversations on the University of South Carolina campus. Like other colleges and universities across the country, USC serves as a hub for young voters, with many students preparing to cast their ballots for the first time. Empowered to choose to choose politicians who represent their values and goals for the country, USC students must decide whom to support in the neck-and-neck race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Youth voter registration and participation could make a big impact in battleground states, and students now have an opportunity to get involved no matter where they sit on the political spectrum. Opinions of USC students could serve as a window into what to expect from the behavior of young voters and their participation in the upcoming election.
As far as what is seen through that window, many of the students interviewed by Garnet & Black seemed to agree on the importance of voting, though opinions were varied on other aspects of the upcoming election. Concerns about housing costs and reproductive rights were an additional trend among voters interviewed.
Ellie Knight, 18, voted in the primary election and has already ordered her absentee ballot from her home state of North Carolina. She is passionate about making a difference through casting her vote, whether that be on the local or national level.
"I feel like this might come off as mean, but I feel like there are certain people who just shouldn't be in office," Knight said. "So really using your voice to make your vote count, that's important to me."
As far as what's at stake at the polls in November, she is concerned about shifts in reproductive health care policy.
"Women's rights, I feel like that's a big thing—reproductive rights, rights in general," Knight said.
While Knight supports candidate Harris, she's uncertain about the outcome of the race.
"Honestly, I want Kamala to win, but I'm not quite sure if America's ready for that."
Connor Kitley, 18, is a psychology major enthusiastic about the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election.
"My high school was promoting it a lot, and all my family wants me to vote. I want to vote," Kitley said. "I think it's important that everyone that's eligible to vote votes."
Kitley personally believes that what makes this election unique is its inclusion of a presidential candidate unlike any other in American history.
"I think it's a culture shock to have a black woman running to be a president," Kitley said, referring to current Vice President Harris. "But I feel like she has a lot of people backing her, and I think it would be a good change for the country overall to have a new perspective."
In terms of specific issues, Kitley is focused on what impacts the average student.
"I think a big thing that I haven't seen a lot is prices for housing, for school," Kitley said. "I know Biden did the whole loan stuff, and I think that's just very important to me going into college and seeing how expensive it is and seeing how people can fix those problems."
Ryan Marinaro, 21, has decided to vote in the November election, but he believes social media has drawn excessive attention to the race.
"People are very divided now more than ever. I would say it's very pro one side or very against one side," Marinaro said. "I think especially with social media going crazy now, people think this is the most important election ever, even though it probably isn't, to be honest."
Marinaro is most concerned with economic and environmental issues.
"Inflation is obviously up there, but I think global warming is up there as well since that's been an issue for the last 10, 20 years," Marinaro said. "But I would also say the housing market as well, because younger people now have such a hard time finding a place to live without going 'Hey, Mom, Dad, can you give me some money?'"
In addition, he predicts the race will be tight, but that the attempt on Trump's life will have an impact on voters.
"After the assassination attempt, I would have to say that I think Trump is gonna win, but I can see it being very close as well, honestly," Marinaro said. "It could go either way, but if I had to say right now who's gonna win, I'd say Trump."
Dahlia Pearson, 18, is a freshman criminal justice major who plans to vote but has mixed emotions about the presidential election.
"This is kind of the worst year for it to be my first time voting," Pearson said. "I'm happy [but] at the same time, my opinion and my vote matters most this year, so it's kind of stressful, a little bit."
Pearson does not seem to have a strong party affiliation but rejects Trump as a candidate.
"I don't mind a Republican president. I don't care. It's just, I personally don't like Donald Trump," Pearson said.
Additionally, Pearson is passionate about the fate of reproductive rights, which the candidates seem to have vastly different views on.
"The whole abortion thing, anything regarding women's laws and rights, I feel like it's very important to have the right person regulating all that stuff, because I don't want that to be in the wrong hands," Pearson said.
Pearson believes Generation Z should actively participate in the polls as the newest voting demographic.
"Our generation is what's coming up," Pearson said. "Since there's more of us, we generally do need to vote more than others do. We have a plethora of people."
Phillip Perea, 22, is an environmental science major who believes exercising the right to vote is important in light of America's long, complicated history with suffrage.
"I've already registered," Perea said. "It's important for us to vote because a lot of people fight for the right to vote in our country, and also a lot of other people don't really have the opportunity to vote, and I think we should use that opportunity."
For Perea, his career prospects and access to advancement opportunities depend on the next administration.
"Because I'm an environmental science major, I would say funding for the EPA and also like environmental issues [are important], because I would maybe be going into that field in the future," Perea said. "More funding for state agencies like DHEC, DES and stuff like that, and having an opportunity for me in the future."
Perea, though not very politically active, acknowledges the effects of politics in his day-to-day life.
"I wouldn't say I'm super huge into politics, but obviously they are important in our life," Perea said.
Wyatt Garrett, 19, is a sophomore transfer student who was previously considering voting for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before his withdrawal from the race on Aug. 23. Garrett considers voting a civic responsibility.
"I hate to say it's a duty as a citizen to do it, but I think in the history of this country, so many people fought for the right to vote," Garrett said. "I think that now that so many people have that privilege to, they should take it upon themselves to act on that."
To Garrett, the most important issues on the ballot have to do with the economy and foreign policy.
"To me, I think the economic status of our country is pretty detrimental right now, and it's not really a personal thing, but something that interests me is the foreign policy going on right now," Garrett said. "I have a pretty basic knowledge that we don't have the greatest relationships with many other countries right now. You could say when the past president was [in office], they were better relationships. Not necessarily allies or anything, but the world was a little more at peace."
As a first-time voter, Garrett is excited to make his voice heard.
"I'm just kind of looking forward to being able to contribute the best I can," Garrett said.
