'My hopes for the country would be let it not run like a joke.': Insights from a young voter

An estimated 8 million Americans will come of age to vote by the November election. WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk recently collaborated with the group YVote to gather insights from young people who can cast a ballot in a presidential race for the first time this year. In this segment, we hear from Brooklyn resident Shreeya Thakur, who will turn 18 just in time to vote in the November election.

The transcript of Shreeya Thakur's story has been lightly edited for clarity.

Shreeya Thakur: 

What matters to me for my first time voting is getting proper information rather than memes. Kamala Harris was recently put in Joe Biden's place, and despite focusing more on her like accomplishments or downfalls or weaknesses, many of the younger generation have been rooting for her for one simple reason, and that's because she's trending.

One thing I want to hear from candidates, elected officials, as well, is honesty. I'd rather just hear their honesty, and what they stand for, and what they know they can do rather than make up lies, trying to support multiple audiences who might be with or against one another, and just like basically play a façade.

My hopes for the country would be let it not run like a joke. It makes no sense to be led by a government we ridicule. That and also have our own voices heard out as well. Our main idea is to represent people. If we aren't represented, it defeats the entire point of a representative democracy. While I understand why it can be difficult to not get everyone's ideas or representation in it, at least an attempt to do so would be nice.

I'm an independent voter as of now, and I'm planning on remaining as such. I don't care which party wins. I just hope that they're not sitting in the White House and then being like, 'Now what?'