Young voters turn out at UNCW to let voice be heard

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We’ve seen higher than normal numbers this midterm election across the state, but are younger voters playing a part in that trend?

Officials say around 500 people voted on the UNCW campus around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday which is on pace to surpass 2014 numbers.

WWAY’s Andrew James spoke with students who say they wanted to vote simply to let their voice be heard.

“I think, I guess two years ago I haven’t seen this much morale just to go vote and it’s not even like a presidential election, it’s the midterms,” Carlin Burgess said. “So it’s a big deal and everyone is like ‘Wow, we’re all excited to do this.’ We’re all excited to have some type of voice in our future.”

Many voices were shared across the student union during a panel discussion, a first for the university. Students from various political groups and perspectives talked about turnout and the issues that sent young voters to polls this midterm.