Kennesaw State is in Cobb County, enrollment 30k
Alexandra Son (right) and Anna Brown (left), both 18-year-old first-time voters from Kennesaw State University, turned out to the polls driven by personal stakes in this election.
Son, concerned for the future of women’s rights, spoke passionately about wanting a safer and more united America.
“I have gone through things that in the Supreme Court they overturned, so it was more of a thing of, like, the safety of me, my little sisters, my future daughters,” she said, citing her immigrant family and the importance of humane policies in her voting decisions.
Reflecting on past elections, Son recalled feeling powerless as a fifth-grader watching the 2016 election unfold.
“I was sitting on the couch, and my parents were, like, screaming… I was like, damn, I wish I was 18 and I could actually vote and do something about it… This election is nerve-wracking, but it’s special because we could have our first woman president and have someone speak for us.”
Brown, also feeling the weight of this election, explained that for her and many in her generation, it’s about preserving women’s rights she’s always known to have.
Studying environmental science, Brown is particularly concerned about climate change and sees it as an urgent priority.
“It’s something that needs more attention, and the fact Harris even talks about it means a lot,” she said, expressing hope for leadership that takes climate issues seriously.