Chicago Votes, a local group dedicated to getting young, first-time voters to the voting booth, led what organizers called a “Parade to the Polls” at the Loop Super Site at Clark and Lake on Thursday.
Julie Bauer, of River Forest, was taking her daughter to the polls.
“She just voted for the first time today; she turned 18,” Bauer said. “I’m excited for her, and I’m excited for our democracy, too.”
Sofia Aranda, with Chicago Votes, was on hand as young voters got off the bus on a sunny day and marched to the ballot box. She said there’s a lot on the mind of young voters.
“They think about the unfairness that they receive in their own communities,” Aranda said. “Fixing the cycle and wanting to make a difference is something that all the youth is thinking about.”
Specifically, the young voters said guns and abortion are hot issues, with some golding up signs demanding abortion access.
“Civic engagement is so huge and voting is one way that we can make a big change,” said Chicago Votes organizer Alex Boutros. “When we talk about voting, we have to talk about voter education; we have to talk about mobilization.”
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