Z-vote: Chicago school students cast ballots for first time in 2024 election, choose between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 presents a new series called “The Z Vote” where we delve into the political issues that concern Generation Z.

It is highly likely that Gen Z voting will play a large role in the November election. On Friday, a group of local students cast their votes for the first time.

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Chicago students who turned out to vote are creating a domino effect that extends beyond first-time voters. Weeks of research and classroom conversations about the importance of voting have sparked excitement among voters, their peers and even their parents.

“2016 elections. I remember being a little child. I felt very sad. I cried,” said first-time voter McKenzie Monroe. “I asked my mom, like, ‘Why can’t I vote?’”

Now Monroe is an adult, at least when it comes to voting rights.

“We can get young people aged 18 to 25 to really believe that their vote matters, because it does,” Monroe said.

The 18-year-old Butler College Prep student, who has always been politically active, joined a group of first-time voters who headed to the polls on Friday, cheered on by a marching band, dancers and their peers.

“Some people said things like, ‘I’m not going to vote. It really doesn’t matter today,’” said Joy Pryor, an English teacher at Butler College Prep. “After everything we did today, now they’re saying, ‘I can’t wait to vote.'”

Students had classes almost every other day to recruit candidates at the local and national level.

“By voting, I feel like I can change the world now,” said Demie Evans, who voted for the first time.

VOTER’S GUIDE | ABC7 Chicago Your Vote Your Vote 2024 Voter Guide

“I feel like every vote counts and I feel like our voice counts,” Latrell Greenwood said.

The excitement spreads to people who are not yet eligible to vote and anyone associated with them.

“Some adults even thought, ‘Oh, I can go to this site,’ you know, because they became more aware,” Pryor said.

The generational impact is why Jasmine Stakehouse, a Butler College Prep graduate and second-time voter, came out to support the students on Friday. She said it was her grandmother who instilled in her the value of voting and that’s what she wants to pass on to the next generation.

“The 2016 election was definitely a wake-up call for me. It was the first time I realized everything was happening and how it could impact the situation,” Stakehouse said. “Just me, my grandma and my aunt. We will all go to vote together. It’s just our job.”

This will be extremely important because in these elections every vote will count. A New York Times poll shows Kamala Harris and Donald Trump essentially deadlocked with 48% of the vote each, indicating that polling has tightened over the past few weeks.

SEE ALSO | Kamala Harris appeals to black men because Gen Z voters believe politics is most important

Monroe said she supports Harris, but added that no matter who you like, all you have to do is vote.

“Our ancestors fought for us to have this opportunity, so it doesn’t matter whether you vote red or blue,” Monroe said. “Go and vote.”