It was loud and clear back in 2012 and 2008. The youth of America stood alongside President Barack Obama reelection with a 60% of their votes. This was 6% percent less than the turnout in 2008 but the win proved that everyone under the age of 30 wanted to be heard.
Back in 2008, President Obama led and won his campaign with ‘Change” as his slogan. For his reelection, he hoped to continue moving ‘forward’ and managed to beat his opponent, Mitt Romney.

For many millennials, the appeal landed on in 2008 and stuck in 2012 Obama.

“I hated [Mitt Romney] religious propaganda,” said Melissa Garcia, 23
Recalling her involvement in the election, Garcia openly supported Obama.
“He’s was what we need to actually move out of this dysfunctional system”

“I got to see the first African-American President of the United states. That’s history, history I played into when I voted,” said Jacob Mena, 25.

“Voting for Obama was my way of saying F- the system,” said Sarah Lakes, 23. “Another religious white man? No way!”

While the movement for ‘change’ attracted many followers on the democratic side, the presidential election overall lost about 4.8 percent of registered voters from its previous election. This dip in voter turnout, despite an increase in eligible voters in 2012 resulted from individual that simply did not vote.

“ I didn’t vote. I honestly don’t believe my vote matters,” said Alvin Garzon, 24. “I don’t even think I’m registered”

“They’re all puppets, does it really matter who I vote for?” said Emily Tirado,30 who did not vote in 2008 or 2012.

Driven by strong conservative ideas, Mitt Romney led his campaign in 2012 to led the nation’s people to “Believe in America” as the republican nominee. While the democratic youth stood by Obama, older generation and religious youth supported by Romney to ‘restore’ America.

“As nations, we have forgotten what we stand by and what our foundation is about,” said Alex Hilsamer, 40 an active republican. “He would have been a great president.”

“I liked his background and what he stood for. I remember thinking that all these liberal ideas on abortions and legalizing marijuana and immigration would come to an end,” said Amy Chavez, 43