Mandie McCormick

Submitted photo

As a young American who is turning 18 before this year’s election, I cannot wait to perform my civic duty by voting in the Nov. 5 general election.

Unfortunately, many other members of my generation do not share the same enthusiasm. The 2020 presidential election had the highest voter turnout of 18- to 24-year-olds of the 21st century; however, that amounted to only 51.4% of this age group.

My goal in speaking out is to encourage others in my age group to vote in national, local and state elections because the officials elected and how they will govern directly affects our future.

In such an unprecedented time regarding issues such as America’s housing crisis, women’s right to reproductive freedom and climate change, it is essential for Generation Z to take our future into our own hands.

Voting is extremely important in a battleground state such as Arizona to ensure that your voice as the future of America is heard. Our future will be directly affected by the results of this election, and we should not take that lightly.

The right to vote is a privilege that millions of individuals globally do not possess, so we should not take it for granted. Many issues at stake in November will directly affect how we live and work, so it is essential for young Americans to inform themselves and vote.

The last day to register to vote in Arizona is Monday, Oct. 7. All Arizonans over the age of 18 without a felony conviction can register online at ServiceArizona. For more information on voting, key 2024 election dates and candidate information, visit the Arizona Secretary of State’s elections page.

Please let this motivate you to register to vote, if you haven’t already, and perform your civic duty as an Arizonan and an American this coming November.

Editor’s note: First-time voter Mandie McCormick is a senior at Aspire Online Academy. A Lumberjack Scholars Award recipient, she plans to pursue a communications and science disorders degree in speech pathology at Northern Arizona University, and a master’s degree in language and speech pathology. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.