Voices on Voting: Getting Gen Z to the Polls
2020 is here. And while the new year brings in a new decade, it is also an election year. This year, nearly half of Generation Z is eligible to vote in the Presidential Election. For many, this will be their first time being old enough to head to the Polls.
Prior research indicates Generation Z is very socially informed and concerned about the issues facing their local communities, our country, and the world. Therefore, it is critical that they are voting to ensure their vote is heard and they are represented appropriately in the country.
Knowing that Generation Z is a unique generational cohort, Dr. Corey Seemiller set out to learn more about their perspectives on voting, government, and politics. We launched the Voices on Voting Study in Fall 2019, which engaged hundreds of Generation Z young people across the country in a quantitative and qualitative study conducted through an online survey form.
Our new report, designed in partnership with Ologie, provides initial insights on Generation Z’s views on voting and outlook on politics.Here are 10 takeaways from the report:
The vast majority of Gen Zers have clear and strong political ideologies even when fewer than 30% strongly identify with a political party.
Far more Gen Zers are left-leaning (and even far left-leaning) than right-leaning.
There are two types of Gen Z Independents, Fluid and Blended, and their anticipated voting behavior is vastly different.
Gen Zers’ political ideologies are shaped by their personal values, with human rights/social justice/equality being the most prevalent.
Most Gen Zers believe candidates should be talking about issues around the environment, finances, and healthcare.
Social media is the first stop for many Gen Zers to get political news…but the apps they use for entertainment like SnapChat and TikTok are not their primary places they go to get this news. Instead, they use Twitter and YouTube.
Gen Zers also get political news and information from friends, online news sites, and parents.
Many Gen Zers are more motivated to vote if they believe candidates are good, ethical, caring, realistic, inspiring, and diverse as well as share their views on issues.
Gen Zers would be more motivated to vote if they believed their vote counted, voting was incentivized, there was more unbiased political information available, if voting was easy and accessible, if laws and policies were different, and if they were supported by their friends and family.
There is a lot that can be done to support Gen Zers in voting.
You can download the new report here: Voices on Voting: Getting Gen Z to the Polls.
2019 Year in Review
The end of the year is such a special time. Not only do we get to see our loved ones, but I find it to be a perfect time for reflection. It’s the one time of year I can slow down and look back at the last 12 months to count my blessings, both those of triumph and of trial. Reflection has been a critical part of my gratitude journey and instrumental in helping me develop habits of practicing gratitude. And truly, looking back on 2019 has given me so much to be grateful for.
As much as I love sending and getting mail, I have a 0-for-10 record for sending out holiday cards in the last decade. Sorry, y’all! So in lieu of a holiday card, I put together my own month-by-month recap of 2019, which includes the moments of meaning for me, both personally and professionally.
JANUARY
I kicked off 2019 spending quality time with my dear friend, Kenny, in Washington D.C.
I traveled to Greensburg, PA to present about Generation Z at Kappa Delta Rho’s board meeting and to Seton Hill University faculty and staff.
I met Michael Weber for the first time over coffee. Even though he doesn’t drink coffee, we have dated since.
I completed my third Whole30. It was one of the more challenging ones I’ve done, but I’m ready for round 4 this coming January 2020.
FEBRUARY
I traveled to Orlando for FCSI’s Annual Meeting to present about Generation Z.
I was accepted as a Fulbright specialist and placed on the roster.
I went to my first Predators game!
MARCH
I attended SXSWEDU in Austin, TX for the second time.
I got really positive news regarding a health concern that has been a worry for years.
I began working with Pi Kappa Phi on an ongoing project focusing on Generation Z strategy and philanthropy and service initiatives.
I traveled to Austria for The Ski Week with two of my best friends.
I injured my elbow at The Ski Week, which led to six weeks of occupational therapy, but we’re good now!
I spoke in London at Wonkhe’s Secret Life of Students Event.
Waffles turned 4!
Season 2 of #GenZ launched.
APRIL
From AFLV West in San Diego.
My good friend, Brent, and I launched a new podcast called “Give It A Whiff”. It’s all about candles, home scents, and good smelling things we love.
I joined the Empowered Women in Business Mastermind, led by the fabulous Dr. Josie Ahlquist. These awesome women have become such an incredible community full of support, wisdom, and accountability.
I saw Ali Wong headline the Nashville Comedy Festival at the Ryman Auditorium.
I served as the keynote speaker for the AFLV West conference in San Diego, CA.
I traveled to Boston, MA to present at an event sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects, the Society of College & University Planners, the Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Knoll.
MAY
I attended the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY for the first time. My horse did not win.
I traveled with my family to Indiana to watch our dear family friend, Kyle McCormick graduate from Purdue University. The McCormicks made their first trip to Nashville after.
For Memorial Day, Michael and I traveled to his hometown of Jackson, Missouri and spent time with his family and friends.
JUNE
I served as the keynote for the Summit of the Carolinas hosted by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and Pi Kappa Phi.
My grandmother, who I was very close with, passed away. Losing her has been a tough experience, but I am forever thankful for the time I spent with her and the impact she made on my life.
I started OrangeTheory and have focused heavily on my fitness since.
JULY
Hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix with Kristy.
My dear friends, Georgia and Lee, visited Nashville from Atlanta for my birthday and the 4th of July holiday weekend.
I spent time in Arizona visiting with friends and working with Corey on some exciting upcoming projects.
AUGUST
I traveled to Columbus, OH to present Delta Tau Delta’s national board, Orange, CA to present to Chapman University’s faculty members, and Montana to present to sexual violence prevention educators working at colleges and universities.
My dear friend from Nashville, Kara, joined me on my trip to California. We visited with my friends Sami and Kevin and we had the best time visiting the vineyards in Temecula and going to Disneyland.
SEPTEMBER
I presented a virtual keynote address to campus professionals at the University of Sussex in the U.K.
I worked with the wonderful Taylor O’Sullivan, who shot and created my speaker reel.
I traveled to Bloomington, IN to be a guest speaker in the Scholarship for Teaching and Learning speaker series at Indiana University.
I took some much-needed vacation time to travel to Germany with Lauren, Michael, Caitlin, and Kara for Volksfest in Stuttgart and Oktoberfest in Munich!
OCTOBER
Presenting with Corey and Gustavo at ILA in Ottawa.
I traveled to Chicago twice to speak, at the Association of University Interior Designer’s annual meeting and at the Knoll showroom.
I traveled to Hickory, NC to speak at the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce’s “Tapping Into Talent” Summit about Generation Z in the workplace, followed by a session at Lenior Rhyne University on Generation Z learners.
I received notification of the publication of our first comparative article about Generation Z in the U.S. and Brazil.
Corey, Gustavo, and I presented our comparative research on Generation Z in the U.S. and Brazil at the International Leadership Association’s annual meeting in Ottawa.
Corey and I launched our third study on Generation Z focusing on voting and political perspectives. We’ll be releasing findings in early 2020.
NOVEMBER
My best friend Kristy visited Nashville.
Michael took me to see Nick Offerman at the Ryman Auditorium--A delayed birthday gift!
I bought my first big kid car and look forward to road trips in my Buick Encore in 2020!
November included a few trips to New York. First, I collaborated with Cornerstone OnDemand on a new project and joined their team for a Facebook Live event. I also spent time in upstate conducting qualitative research for my capstone project. November wrapped up with a keynote at the LICAC annual meeting. After, Michael joined me to explore the city.
DECEMBER
My dear friend Kevin visited Nashville.
I completed the 8th of 9 semesters for my doctoral program.
Season 2 of #GenZ and Season 1 of Give It A Whiff wrapped.
Waffles and I spent the holiday break catching up on the shows we missed while school was in session.
I’m beyond thankful for the experiences 2019 brought. Even the less-than-ideal experiences provided opportunities to learn and grow. Thank you for being along for the ride, as friends, family, collaborators, listeners, readers, and overall high-quality humans. As the new decade starts, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and learn in life and my work. Cheers to a wonderful 2019 and the exciting things that await in 2020!
Window Seat Stories: Nashville, TN
Digital Detox: Stepping Away from Social
Hello My Name Is...Generation Z
Welcome!
Photo by Ashley Sullivan.
Hello! Welcome to my blog! For those who know me personally, I have a lot of thoughts about a variety of topics and I'm usually never at a loss for words. My hope in starting a blog is to cover a broad range of topics, even those beyond my typical professional focus in education or Generation Z.
Don't worry, you'll still get some of that goodness, but I will also be running with some others topics I care about. I love traveling, great conversations, and food you can’t forget about. I’ll try to work all of that in, along with sharing about some of my life updates, think pieces, and sharing resources.
I have a few guiding philosophies from my personal life that will be infused in this blog:
Positivity only: With enough negativity in this world, I will try to provide more positivity and light. While I might provide my personal viewpoint on something and it may have a hint of criticism here and there, my main goal is highlight awesome things, people, places, and concepts. If you disagree with something, say so respectfully--Remember people online are still people.
Learn something new everyday: My hope in sharing my stories and experiences is that I can help others learn, but it also my opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn things as well. If you have something you think I need to feature or discuss on my blog, please send it my way!
I can't wait to share with you and I hope you enjoy. Stay tuned for more!
-MG