This is the first year I am able to vote in a Presidential election, but I vividly remember being a minor and wanting my voice to be heard. That is why we recently asked the American members of the BuzzFeed Community who are currently too young to vote what they want to say to adults who can vote in this election.
The responses in the comment section of the original post, which I strongly encourage you to read, included discussion of issues like climate change, immigration, COVID-19, and a whole lot more.
Every commenter below voting age who explicitly stated a preference for a candidate said they supported former Vice President Joe Biden. For this post, BuzzFeed selected responses that would show the wide array of issues brought up, and included as many varied perspectives on this election as possible.
Here are 26 responses from the comments, edited for length and clarity.
1. "Global warming is real. I genuinely don’t think the Earth will make it for me to have grandkids. If we don’t take this seriously, I could be a part of the last generation, and I’m terrified."
2. "Vote for the people, NOT the party."
3. "By not voting, you are actively participating in gradually stripping us of our freedoms and our say in OUR future. You are not thinking of the effects it can have on our generation and the generations to come. You are participating in the dismantling of our democracy. Elect Biden and Harris, dump dictator Trump. We are depending on your vote."
4. "Please think about people who are less fortunate than you, and realize their rights are being taken away."
5. "Do your own research. In order for the change that needs to happen to take place, we must either compromise, or start agreeing. Come together, fix the divide. Whichever candidate you see fits your morals, you need to vote for that candidate."
6. "...I want to raise my future children in a stable America, because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. If you care at all about this country and the people in it, you need to make the right decision."
"Do not be a part of the most corrupt presidency in history. Be proud to tell your children and grandchildren who you are voting for. If you don’t do it for me and the other countless teenagers that will inherit the mess left behind, at least do it for your family."
7. "I’m afraid for my abortion rights, my BIPOC and LGBTQ friends' rights, and the future I’ll have with COVID. Trump has made statements both directly and indirectly against these things."
8. "I am terrified. I really want to have a future where I don’t have to worry about a storm knocking down my house or a fire swallowing the country whole. But I feel so helpless with Trump in office. He wants to make short-term profits instead of keeping us safe long-term. I am also scared as a young gay woman that my rights are at risk."
"Trust me, I know Biden isn’t perfect, but my future depends on him winning. You are privileged in that you will be gone before it starts to really effect us. You get to die of old age, but I will die of climate change."
9. "A vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for Trump."
10. "Voting has been so politicized, like if you have a sticker that says 'vote' people automatically assume you're liberal. Listen, nobody cares who you vote for. In the end, it's your decision, but PLEASE just vote!"
"Actually listen to what's going on. If you need to get your news from TikTok, then do it! Make sure you're still realizing what's going on outside of your bubble, though. Anything that makes you uncomfortable is something you can learn from, but remember to look out for your mental health!!"
11. "Please don't just think about the present... think about our future too."
12. "Please vote blue whether or not you are a Democrat. The president that we have now has failed us in every aspect possible. He claims to be pro-life, but we all know if that baby is Black, Hispanic, gay, transgender, female, poor, or any type of minority, they are on their own."
"As a young Hispanic girl who comes from immigrant parents, I ask that you please vote because your vote counts, and please vote blue."
13. "I wish people could realize that there's never gonna be a perfect candidate. There are problems with both candidates, but if you don't vote, that doesn't mean neither candidate's gonna win. You will never be able to get someone who fully supports every cause you believe in. You have to vote for the person who will BEST improve America."
14. "Minors in this country are depending on you to make the decisions that we can’t, so you need to vote for the candidate who will care for the whole country and won’t ignore the issues that are killing thousands of Americans."
15. "You need to vote for climate action. This election is *so* important, and we must work to protect our planet. Otherwise, my generation will face an impossible crisis that we can’t fix."
16. "Please make the right choice because me and my friends are scared to return to school due to the coronavirus, we feel as minority kids that we aren’t being protected, and we fear for our future."
"The current administration is incompetent and is dividing America. The country that we live in today under this presidency isn’t one I can see our generation thriving in."
17. "Choose wisely. Don't put religion into politics, they don't mix well. You're voting for someone who has our future in their hands."
18. "Vote for who you want to vote for. There is no right or wrong, it’s your opinion, your voice and ultimately your choice. Don’t let Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram decide who you want everyone to listen to for the next four years."
"For those who don’t know, that’s your next four birthdays, Christmases, 4ths of July, Thanksgivings, mom's and dad's birthdays, etc. So don’t let anyone chose who you vote for besides yourself and God."
19. "Just think of our futures you are ruining if you vote for Trump. Please think about it. Many of us won't be able to afford university. Then we won't get a good job and that leads to us not being able to comfortably raise a family. All of us, we need this. Plus, if you vote for Trump, it's most likely that LGBTQ folks won't be able to get married or adopt."
"Please, for all of us, vote for Biden. He is the best bet we've got right now. Biden and Kamala can fix some of the stuff Trump did. Please think of our futures."
20. "I can't vote, so please, vote for me. Vote for everyone you've ever loved. Vote for the people who are in hard places, the people who can't get out. Vote responsibly for others, think of the people your vote could hurt, and be prepared to face the consequences of who you vote [for]."
21. "Please, adults, when you are voting, think about what is best for ALL Americans, which candidate will lead EVERY KIND of American — white, Black, brown, Asian, religious, atheists — in a way that could bring us together. Please, do this for us. Can you give us a country that is more united than it has been before?"
22. "We can’t vote, so we’re depending on the people in our lives who can. Please talk to the young people in your life and make sure you vote to safeguard our future as well as your own, and vote BLUE!"
23. "Think about the youth. Think about the people of color if you're white. Think about the women if you're a man. Think about the LGBTQ community if you're straight and binary. It's your vote, yes, but your vote influences everyone else's and who this country's leader is for the next four years."
"Do your research, don't just vote for the name beside your party; you could be Republican and be voting Democratic, you could be [a Democrat] and be voting Republican. I would disagree with you, but I can't do anything about that, neither can anyone else. Please be empathetic."
24. "I understand that some people might not be a fan of either candidate, but take a look at the last four years. Look at what is happening right now around the nation. There are 8,000,000+ people who have had COVID-19. 200,000+ deaths. Wildfires in California. Innocent Black people being killed at the hands of the police. Our country is in chaos. Do you really want to see another four years of this? We are terrified for our future. No one knows what’s going to happen."
"We NEED leadership, which we definitely will not get from our current president. Vote for a president who will benefit every American. Remember, Americans are not just white, straight, cisgender people. Americans are Muslim. Americans are Black. Americans are transgender. Americans are Hispanic. Americans are Latinx. Americans are immigrants. Please help keep our nation great, for EVERYONE, by voting."
25. "Don’t mess up the world we’re going to inherit."
26. "Vote if you’re in a hard red state. Vote if you’re in a blue state. Vote if you’re in a swing state. JUST VOTE!"
