Women Voters Key to Harris' Campaign in Battleground States: Young Voters Push Early Voting Surge
As election day looms, college campuses are buzzing, and in battleground states like Michigan and Arizona, young women are lining up early to cast their ballots. Vice President Kamala Harris is banking on these voters to bring in the support that could decide the election.
At the University of Michigan’s early voting center in Ann Arbor, Keely Ganong, a junior, described her enthusiasm about voting for Harris. “She’s a leader I really want representing my country,” Ganong said. She and her friend Lola Nordlinger emphasized gender equality and abortion rights as key motivators for their votes. “It’s such a personal choice; it shouldn’t be anyone else’s decision,” Nordlinger added.
Ganong also noted that voting is a hot topic on campus, with students rallying their peers to make their voices heard in the election. “Student voices can change this election,” she said.
Adrianna Pete, a 24-year-old campus volunteer educating students on voting, echoed this sentiment. “I feel like a lot of women are rising up,” she said, highlighting a trend that’s become crucial for Harris. Recent polling from the Harvard Institute of Politics shows Harris leads young women aged 18-29 by 30 points and college students overall by an even greater margin.
Harris’ Rallying Point: Mobilizing Young Women Voters
Hannah Brocks, a 20-year-old volunteer, attended a Harris rally in Ann Arbor. Brocks, part of her university’s young Democrats club, has been busy knocking on doors and making phone calls to encourage people to vote. For Brocks, Harris’ “love and empathy” resonates deeply and strengthens her support.
This enthusiasm among young women could prove decisive, especially if voter turnout mirrors that of 2020, when women outvoted men by around 10 million. Early voting exit polls indicate a 55% female turnout, although analysts warn that it’s unclear how these women will vote.
While Harris has a strong lead among young non-white women, her advantage narrows among young white women, underscoring a complex voter landscape. Historically, Democrats have struggled to win over white, non-college-educated women, a demographic Harris hopes to court with her focus on abortion rights—a potential tipping point as some women turn away from Trump.
Pollster Evan Roth Smith, with the Democratic firm Blueprint, noted, “A key voter profile is the swing-state woman without a college education. Abortion could be the issue that brings her to Harris.”
Abortion Rights a Hot Button Issue in Arizona
At a Harris rally in Arizona, abortion rights are top of mind for many voters, especially with a state ballot measure that could enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Mary Jelkovsky, a 26-year-old Arizonian, says the stakes are high with this measure, particularly since abortion is currently restricted after 15 weeks. Jelkovsky’s “vote with your vag” sweatshirt drew attention, underscoring her commitment to the cause. “This election couldn’t be more important,” she said, adding that discussions about Roe v. Wade’s overturning have opened up meaningful conversations within her circle.
The Harris campaign is counting on these discussions to galvanize women and sway some Republican voters. Rebecca Gau, a former lifelong Republican from Arizona, sees Harris as a better representative for her values and has shifted her allegiance. “I don’t care about political party right now—women are tired,” she said.
Still, some Republican women remain unconvinced. Tracey Sorrel, a Texan and part of the BBC’s Voter Panel, believes Harris would go too far with abortion rights. Despite her reservations about Trump, she plans to vote for him. “I’m voting on policy, not personality,” she said.
As election day approaches, the question remains: will women’s voices create the momentum Harris needs? With issues like abortion front and center, her campaign hopes that women across the spectrum will show up—and shift the election outcome.
