Young political activists push for voter engagement in Georgia

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Gen-Z is hard at work rallying young people to go vote in November.

Both the president of the Young Democrats of Georgia and the chairwoman for Georgia Young Republicans say the 2024 election is crucial to the future they want to build.

“Gen Z is going to show up and show out,” said Parker Short, Young Democrats of Georgia president.

“Vote for the future you,” said Jacquelyn Harn, Georgia Young Republicans Chairwoman.

Parker Short, 22, and Jacquelyn Harn, 25, have been involved with politics since their early teens.

“I’ve been involved since high school because no matter who you’re voting for, you deserve agency and you deserve your values to be reflected in our politics,” said Short.

“I got involved in politics when I was still in high school. I campaigned and volunteered for a local mayor where I’m from in Savannah. I saw it was a method to get our voice out there because I feel like someone has to connect between younger people and some of the older, established folks in the party, said Harn.

Now, they’re doing everything they can to make sure ages 18 to 40 are voting for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

Tuesday, Short was at the campaign rally for presidential candidate Kamala Harris where he’s gained a lot of attention for his energy at the rally.

“I’ve always been loud. I’m glad they caught that on video, but the energy is real it’s not just for some song. It’s for policies that reflect a new generation,” said Short.

Harn says she’s thinking of her future for this election.

“I’m voting for myself that wants to have a family. My boyfriend and I are the same way in a sense to where it would be nice to be able to look forward to and be like yes, we can afford not only our rent or mortgage, but we can also afford to have kids and put them in this good schooling system here, we can afford to live in a county with a great public school system, or maybe we can do homeschool,” said Harn.

Short also has the future in mind.

“I care about the future of this country, I want to raise my kids in Georgia, and I want them to have a better future. For me, the democratic party is about letting people in and lifting people up,” said Short.

With less than 100 days away from the election, Harn and Short say they’re putting boots on ground.

“If you’re confused about who you want to vote for...do it for your future self, do it for your wallet, and do it for that future family you’re going to have one day,” said Harn. “If you want gas prices to be low again, if you want groceries to be low again, there’s a certain candidate, a certain party that you need to vote for...Different name at the top of the ticket, but the same failed policies, if not worse, that are going to continue for the next four years.

“I’m ready to shock the nation again and elect the first women president and protect a women’s right to chose, and fight for criminal justice reform, and fight for a clean energy future, better infrastructure, and better health care, and I’m going non-stop until election day,” said Short.

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