Jon Stewart Would Like A Word

Good advice for young voters feeling election anxiety

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The youth vote saved this country in 2020. And if I may be so bold … we need young people and first-time voters to step up again. This is a heartfelt request from a man who dearly loves his country and deeply fears where we are heading. I would also ask that if you know a young voter, please forward this to them.  

In the last presidential election, 50 percent — yes, half — of Americans aged 18-29 cast ballots. That’s a huge increase from 2016, when only 39 percent voted. The youth of this country quite literally saved us from four more years of Trump.  

In the upcoming election, 41 million members of Gen Z (those born 1995-2012) will be eligible to vote, 8 million for the first time. A survey from Harvard found that the majority support President Biden, though that support isn’t as strong as it was in 2020. When you break it down by gender, Biden leads by 6 points among young men and 30 points among young women. 

Recently my friend Jon Stewart posted an illuminating discussion he had with a young voter. First, let me say how pleased I am that he has returned to “The Daily Show,” even if only once a week. Stewart’s mix of news and humor is a powerful force in politics. Stewart also posts pre-show clips from what’s called “After the Cut,” an online segment in which Stewart takes questions from the audience.  

In this particular clip, an audience member told Stewart she thinks a lot of people her age (she’s 22), are “not happy with the choice of candidates we have in November.” She went on to explain, “We feel like our vote, our voice doesn’t matter.”

We here at Steady have discussed the importance of the youth vote and young people’s dissatisfaction with their choices in November. What we haven’t delved into is her second point: that members of Gen Z do not believe their voices are being heard. 

Stewart emphatically told her that her voice counts. “Oh, it so matters,” he assured her. “Advertisers look at demographics, but the largest demographic that they look at is 18-24. That’s the one that means everything to them — use that power. I’m 61, I’m not even listed anymore. Don’t discount the power that you guys have. This is the fight. No generation ever feels empowered, or seen, or any of those things.”

I think Stewart hit the proverbial nail, hard. 

It’s understandable that a group of people new to the voting rolls might not recognize their political clout. Gen Z is not a monolith — no voting bloc is — but one thing its members do have in common is a naivete about the power they can wield. They will decide one of the most important elections in our history, if they vote. And on the issues most important to them — the economy, climate change, gun control, and abortion — they are more closely aligned with President Biden than Donald Trump. But they have to be assured, convinced that their vote will make a difference. That is a tall order when they get most of their news from doom scrolling on social media. 

So Stewart met them where they are, leaning into rather than discounting the malaise that many are feeling.

“I suggest trusting your discomfort, because you clearly feel it. But discomfort is a wonderful motivator,” he advised. “Action is the antidote to anxiety. And if you feel anxiety, it will lessen as you take action. Small actions, like a little bit every day. Honestly, that discomfort will spur you on. I am sure of it and your generation.”

Great advice, and I couldn’t agree more. Small actions can yield big dividends. Encourage the young people you know to register to vote, learn where candidates stand on issues, volunteer at a local food bank … anything that will engage this new generation of voters and show them that their votes and their voices can and will make a difference. Democracy depends on it.

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Stay Steady,
Dan