By definition, history, and even insurance actuarial tables young adults have longer to live than people in older age groups. While no one has complete control over how life will proceed, young adults (generally those aged 18-34) have much longer to live with the results of their decisions, and those made by their families, communities, states, and countries.
Our complex nation and world include many important issues that impact all age groups. Major issues that affect young adults either uniquely or much more than older age groups include a long-term comfortable and safe climate; sexual and reproductive health and freedom (e.g., unwanted pregnancy, disease transmission, contraception, abortion, choice of partner, assault prevention); the costs of education, housing, and raising children; and the potential to serve in armed services combat.
While young adults might need to be more environmentally prudent than their parents, grandparents, etc., they and their offspring will feel the rewards. While sexual caution and good decisions are both smart and at times challenging, calling for abstinence among most young adults is a little like calling for ocean waves not to break on shore. While many parents and other relatives help with the costs of education, housing, and raising children, young adults bear most of the costs. While it is admirable for young adults to serve to defend our homeland and foreign allies, and provide disaster relief around the globe, it likely is best to be ready but not actually deployed in combat.
So, how can young adults (or anyone) in the U.S. influence the laws, services, information, and climate that impact their lives? They can initiate or join advocacy, education, and communication efforts. They can lead or join rallies, meetings, discussions, etc. And, of course, they can register to vote, make sure their registration is valid, and VOTE.
In the U.S. voting is a right, as is choosing not to vote, but when young adults do not vote it could help elect candidates more likely to harm versus aid their age-specific interests. As for the structure of U.S. elections with partisan-drawn district lines and the Electoral College, EVERY VOTE MATTERS. In recent history many state and local races were won by less than 1% of the vote; and in presidential races small margins determined which candidate received some states’ Electoral College votes, that in turn, impacted who won the White House regardless of who won the popular vote.
For whom to vote is everyone’s private choice, and no one can be forced to reveal or explain their votes. When deciding for whom to vote, all voters have access to many sources of information, inspiration, fear, and warning. When sorting through the crowded information landscape to guide voting decisions young adults can focus on who is likely best for their age-specific interests. They can consider who will favor better policies for Earth’s climate (there is no Planet-B); sexual and reproductive health and freedom; the costs of housing, education, and raising children; and responsible use of armed conflict.
Further, the two-party system has dominated U.S. elections since roughly the 1850s and that seems unlikely to change soon. In 2024 young adults who vote for candidates outside either the Democratic or Republican party can make an important statement, but like the decision not to vote, it could help elect candidates more likely to harm versus aid their age-specific interests.
Finally, while young adults (and everyone) should be angry and sad by events in Israel on 10/7/23 and the aftermath in Gaza, recent reporting indicates some will consider that awful situation as the only factor for whether to vote, or for whom. However, rarely does anyone get to vote for the “perfect” candidate who would work for everything the voter desires. In 2024 if young adults base voting decisions solely on their anger and sadness it too could help elect candidates more likely to harm versus aid their age-specific interests, and at this point, support unknowable actions in the Middle East.