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Both Republicans and Democrats are working hard to court young voters, a critical demographic in the 2024 general election. According to Tufts University, about 41 million Gen Z are eligible voters, many of whom are going to vote for the first time. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereWXII spoke with several young voters about their top issues, voting habits and party leanings.The issues:Education and more secure gun laws, 19-year-old Nadia Heggs said. I think maybe making it harder for people to be able to get guns because I feel like its too easy for kids my age and younger to be able to get stuff. I mean, you have kids in middle school able to get stuff, whether it’s by their parents or through their parents.What can help us as students with student loans, student aid, stuff like that, 19-year-old Ahmarrion Holland said. I think our reproductive rights kind of matter, 19-year-old Lujane Yacoub said. And just control of our own bodies really matters.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Securing our borders, 20-year-old Nick Copeland said.The environment, a big issue there, 19-year-old Jackson Wells said. There are red flags flying everywhere for that. Several young voters talked about their concerns over their economic futures.I would like to have a house when I graduate from here, 19-year-old Jervis Albert said. Maybe a car and a nice paying job.We’re still here in college and still navigating our adult lives, and we’re kind of thinking what our future is going to look like, Yacoub said. What our future is going to look like for our possible kids. When we get out of here, what are our careers going to look like? I would say the economy is my biggest issue, Copeland said. Things are so expensive nowadays that middle-class Americans and people like me in college are really struggling to just have groceries every week.I’m going to need to have a house, Wells said. And having some kind of plan in place where I know it’s not going to cost my whole wallet; that’s going to really, really be helpful for me.Who are young people voting for?The latest Harvard Youth Poll shows that Kamala Harris has a 28-point lead over Donald Trump among likely voters under 30. For this story, WXII spoke with nine young voters. Eight out of the nine young voters said they plan on voting for Kamala Harris. They say they like her personality and her message.I just want someone chill and looks about for everybody, Albert said. Kamala seems very chill, but also serious about her job.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsJust seeing representation in the government as far as her being a Black woman is very important to me, 21-year-old Chloe Bryant said I think she’s a voice for the people on all sides, and she has all of this knowledge behind her, Yacoub said. And I think even in the debate, she was extremely effective in terms of giving the evidence and the facts.The Harris voters also expressed reservations about Trump. Trump is more like a meme figure, somebody you laugh at, but trusting a whole country to him? Albert said. Eh, I dont know.Hell go back on his word, 20-year-old Isaiah Kimbrough. Hes not very much so reliable on his word.Republicans and Democrats alike, it would affect us all in a terrible way, I think, Yacoub said. I don’t know who said it, but they said we wouldn’t survive another Trump term if he was elected.Copeland, a college student from Wilmington, said he planned on voting for Trump. He cited his top issues as the economy and securing the southern border. He says Trump has the strength and focus to handle those issues. I think he probably knows how to run a country as opposed to some of the people in office right now. I feel like theyre throwing money in places they shouldnt, he said. It’s very discombobulated right now. I feel like Trump is very centered. He knows what he wants. He knows what he needs, and he gets it done.Young people are motivated to voteHistorically, both parties have struggled to turn out the young vote. However, all of the young voters we spoke to said they are planning to vote or already had. I do think its important because I feel like our voices need to be heard and if we want things to change, then we have to take those steps and go out and vote, Heggs said. We cant complain then not do anything about it.I know who I should vote for and my vote matters, so I know I do need to pay attention to that sometimes, Holland said. People need to take initiative, Wells said. This is not a time for people to sit on the couch on election day and just see how it goes.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love | Trending Stories