As the 2024 elections approach, all eyes are on Georgia, a key battleground state where young voters could potentially have a significant impact on the outcome.

That is, of course, if they show up to the polls.

A Look at Past Turnout

Historically, the 18-24 age category is the least likely to show up to the polls on Election Day. Only 25.6% of 18-24-year-olds voted in the 2022 election, while 48% voted in 2020.

Barrow County’s Efforts

Monica Franklin has been Barrow County’s director of elections and voter registration since 2011. Franklin said she has noticed that the younger generation tends to have a higher turn out every four years for the presidential election. 

“It really all depends on how their parents are,” Franklin said. “If their parents are really involved, more than likely they’re gonna be involved.”

Franklin said because her office only has three full-time employees, it’s challenging to find time for outreach, but she has made efforts to encourage young voter registration.

“I went and did a voter registration drive at Winder-Barrow High School at the end of last school year … and I actually was able to register like 25 kids which I was very proud of that, you know, I thought that that was a really good number,” Franklin said.

UGA Students Take Initiative

At the University of Georgia, various student organizations have taken it upon themselves to actively encourage other students to make a plan to vote. Jake Hays, president of the Young Democrats of UGA, said his organization participates in phone banking, registration drives and other various initiatives in an attempt to increase young voter turnout.

Hays also emphasized the importance of the younger generation’s participation, as their futures are directly affected by elected officials’ decision making.  

“Elected officials are our gateway into the government,” Hays said. “They represent us and we always need to remember that.”

Shazan Samnani, president of Voters of Tomorrow @ UGA, stressed how important it is for young voters to make their voices heard.

“We need to make our voices heard in politics … especially with a lot of mis- and disinformation going on, we need to be there, we need to show up,” Samnani said.

Hays echoed similar sentiments. 

“We need to show up. A lot of the time we don’t show up,” Hays said.

Hays concluded by reflecting on some of the historical sacrifices made by individuals who fought for the right to vote.

“I think that we’ve grown up in an era where we’ve taken [voting] for granted. Back in the 60s, for example, John Lewis, a Georgia hero, he had his head beaten in, his skull fractured, marching from Selma to Montgomery to get the right to vote,” Hays said. “He almost died for that cause, people did die for that cause. And then we’re just not going to exercise that right to vote that people were willing to put their life on the line for … it’s befuddling.”

Haley Slater is a fourth-year majoring in journalism.