On November 5th, the U.S. presidential election will take place. Tens of millions of people will vote for our next president. However, there is so much misinformation surrounding this election that it can be hard to figure out what policies each candidate stands for. It is important to have all of the correct information so that voters can make informed decisions about which candidate they want to support. While most high school students will be ineligible to vote in this upcoming election, it can still be helpful to understand what is going on in the country so that when they are eligible to vote, they will already have an idea of what kinds of candidates they want to support. There are many important issues in this election, but a few of them are more important to teenagers than others. These top issues are gun control, abortion rights, climate change, the war in Gaza, and LGBTQ+ rights. The two leading candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, have policy plans for most of these issues on their official campaign websites.
First, with school shootings becoming more common, many teenagers find themselves increasingly concerned with gun control. As Vice President, Harris led the development of policies that would expand background checks for prospective gun owners. If elected President, she plans to ban assault weapons as well as magazines that can carry large amounts of bullets. She also wants to install red flag laws so that if someone shows dangerous signs, such as a history of violent threats or domestic violence, they will not be permitted to purchase a firearm. Furthermore, she will expand gun violence prevention programs and build up law enforcement funding. In contrast, Trump’s official campaign website does not list any specific policy changes related to gun rights if he is elected President. However, he does promise that he will uphold and defend the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
Next, after the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade was overturned, the power to make laws about abortion was given to the states, as opposed to the federal government. This has become a major point of contention across the country, as different states implement drastically different laws. Trump takes credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and will oppose late-term abortion. He vows to support mothers as well as policies that help with access to birth control and fertility treatments. However, Harris claims that if she is elected President, she would not support a national abortion ban. If Congress were to pass a bill to grant reproductive freedom to all across the nation, Harris promises to sign it into law.
Additionally, as global temperatures increase, climate change has become a very important and consequential issue for young people. On one hand, Harris has, in the past, prosecuted many cases against large companies that contribute to pollution. She cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which tackled climate and energy issues within the country. If elected, she will fight for clean air and water and work to reduce pollution while investing in healthier sources of energy. Trump’s official campaign website does not lay out any policy plans to address climate change. However, it does make several references to increasing production and the use of certain kinds of energy such as oil, natural gas, and coal. While oil and coal release high levels of pollutants, natural gas is considered a fairly clean energy source.
Furthermore, as the conflict in Gaza continues, Gen Z has become very vocal about how much the issue matters to them. The handling of the conflict could matter a lot. Trump’s official campaign website does not contain any specific information about how he plans to handle the war. However, it does say that he will combat antisemitism and deport people who are pro-Hamas. Meanwhile, Harris has indicated that while she agrees with Israel’s right to defend itself, the safety of the Palestinian people is also very important. She supports a two-state solution that will release the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, and ensure that Israel is secure.
Finally, the issue of LGBTQ+ rights has become a top priority for many Gen Z voters. It is also one of the most fiercely debated topics. If elected, Trump intends to ban the use of taxpayer dollars to fund gender transition surgeries, as well as ban schools from promoting gender transitions. Trump also wants to undo revisions made to Title IX by Joe Biden. However, Harris has officiated multiple same-sex marriage ceremonies and vows to protect the freedom to love openly. As President, she would pass the Equality Act to implement anti-discrimination measures for LGBTQ+ individuals.
As the election grows closer, it becomes increasingly more difficult but important to figure out what each candidate stands for and what they would do if elected. Having accurate information is key to voting. While all of the above information came from the official campaign websites of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, people need to gather their knowledge as well, so they can ensure they are making the best, most informed decision.
