Two trends in midterm elections have held strong in American politics for years: low turnout and the scant youth vote in said cycles.
Virginia’s off-cycle elections, which include both statewide and local races, are testing these pieces of conventional wisdom.
At precincts in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, younger voters made their voices heard at the polls on Tuesday. Many of them had their first election experience a year ago, during the 2024 presidential elections.
But rather than succumb to the idea that “their vote doesn’t count,” they’ve decided to cast their ballots once more for the issues they care about, as well as a sense of civic responsibility.
In Fredericksburg’s second ward, registered voters assembled at the Dorothy Hart Community Center on Election Day. They came by cars, buses and trolleys, arriving at a parking lot packed with voters and canvassers.
One voter, 18-year-old Evelyn Dean, is concerned about historic preservation in the city but said that she was generally excited and inspired to practice her civil rights.
Dean voted in the 2024 presidential election and has kept up with the issues she said have been close to the hearts of her and her friends. Dean said that Tuesday’s turnout made her realize how much her vote does matter. When asked, she listed a few factors that make the process seem overwhelming and unfair to younger generations.
“I think the electoral college makes people feel really small,” she said. “People are also really overwhelmed by the waves of either party, whatever side they’re leaning. But even though some people feel overshadowed, what some people look forward to is knowing in their hearts that they voted for what they believed in. They may feel that it doesn’t really make a difference, I think it’s really the principle that is really driving people away from that.”
Another voter, Ayiana Allen, also voted for the first time in the presidential election and decided to continue that streak into the midterms. The issues that brought Allen, 19, to the polls included the preservation of abortion rights and a chance to combat the agenda of the Trump administration.
Voters also converged on the New Post Church in Spotsylvania to cast their ballots; turnout for younger people was also more than normal. Mike Ashton, 20, had voted in elections two years ago and came to cast his ballot once more.
Ashton said he hoped his vote would bring change to the Spotsylvania County School Board, a public body that he said has created issues for people he knew. Ashton said that he was seeking fairness for students — a personal issue for him.
“I’ve lost people from issues, so I’m just here to make a change,” he said.
Anne Little, a candidate running for Ward 2 to represent the Fredericksburg City Council, commented on the large turnout of younger voters. She said that as she was canvassing during the campaign, she noticed that many younger people were moving into the city, which she views positively.
“They’re concerned about the environment, about growth and making sure we control growth and that the quality of life stays here for everybody,” Little said.
Her opponent, Joy Crump, said she was likewise excited to see high voter turnout. The candidate said that the outpouring of people heading to the ballot wasn’t a surprise to her.
“I think everybody knows this is an important election in the city, it’s an important election in Virginia and when it counts Fredericksburg does show up,” Crump said. “I’m just happy to be here live, watching it happen.”
