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Last week, I had the opportunity to host a solutions-focused conversation with Utah’s young voters. As the youngest state in the nation, I wanted to know what this group cares most about, what they think about the impact of their vote and how they’re handling increased polarization.
Living Room Conversations, an organization that works to connect people through dialogue, helped host the conversation. Participants were asked to answer questions about their experience and background and then make space for others to share theirs.
More than 20 Utahns between the ages of 18 and 30 showed up for this candid conversation. It was a new format for many of us, and I was pleased to see how free-flowing the conversation was — and how much we all learned about each other in such a short amount of time.
Here’s what they shared:
These young voters care most about the environment. When asked to share, many participants said they’re worried about housing affordability, access to abortion, the war in Gaza and democracy. Most, however, were concerned about the environment and climate change.
“We’ve really grown a lot in terms of our understanding of the environment over the years,” said Wesley, 27. “I think now is as good of a time as ever to start putting that knowledge into taking better care of our environment. We know what kinds of technology do damage to it, we know the effects of it, it’s high time we take that seriously.”
“I think the environment is obviously a big [issue] in the long term,” Shiv, 18, said. “Every other issue is really connected to our ability to live and thrive in a world that’s healthy for us and for the generations to come.”
(Sara Weber | The Salt Lake Tribune) Participants at The Salt Lake Tribune's Your Vote, Your Voice event on Oct. 15 were asked “Which issues do you care most about.” The environment was mentioned most.
They had different takes on what kind of impact their vote can have. Some mentioned gerrymandering, others spoke about third-party voting. But each person we spoke with said they do — and will continue — to vote.
“My vote really does matter, especially on local levels,” said Natalie, 26. “Local elections can be determined by a single-, two-, three- or 10-vote difference. I think that is tremendous when we have so many people not voting at all.”
“It feels like my vote matters in only the symbolic sense and not in the pragmatic sense,” said 26-year-old Kiley.
They also spoke about polarization. They shared stories of politics impacting relationships and how they try to overcome disagreement.
“Politics impact personal relationships in a lot of ways,” said Emily, 26. “I have a lot of different family members and friends who have different political views than I do and, especially right now — in this really polarizing time — it’s sometimes hard to escape talking about politics. I want to be able to be real with them and just be myself. There’s a lot in politics that I want to have conversations about. But, when I know that people don’t want to have genuine conversations, it makes me want to talk to them less about other things.”
“I think we can disagree on a lot of things, but when it comes to basic human rights, there is no disagreement,” said Rodrigo, 19. “While politics haven’t majorly affected any relationships that I have now, I do surround myself with people who don’t share the same political views as me. But they do see the world in similar ways when it comes to the basic necessities of every human, the dignity of humans and the fact that we are all just trying to live our lives.”
I’m beyond grateful for the participation of everyone involved. And I’m heartened to hear its effects. In a post-event survey, participants said they learned about another person’s perspective, connected with someone who has different beliefs and learned new bridge-building skills.
I’m also thankful for Maven CREATE for letting us use their space, for Becca Kearl and Living Room Conversations for facilitating, and for my Tribune colleagues who offered their help. And none of this would have been possible without the generous support of the American Press Institute, which funded this effort. We are grateful for their ongoing support as we continue to evolve opinion journalism to be more of a service to the community.
On the topic of voting, I want to hear from you: How have you made your voting decisions in the past? What will determine how you cast your vote in the future?
Utah Voices
The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.
“There is vast, untapped potential with working parents,” writes Derek Miller, the president & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “When parents leave a job due to an inflexible workplace or child care demands, this deprives businesses of valuable talent.” Read more.
“None of the adverse consequences of rent controls are ‘unintended’ or ‘unexpected;’ they are predictable and confirmed by evidence,” writes Utah State University professor William F. Shughart II. Read more.
“It is not a scientifically rational response to wait until the evidence of irreversible harm is even more overwhelming and irrefutable,” writes Brian Moench, the president of Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment. “Our Legislature and our governor should follow Maine’s and Minnesota’s example and ban all PFAS pesticides in Utah.” Read more.
“By renewing ZAP, we ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from thriving arts, parks and recreational opportunities, just as we have,” writes Harris Simmons, the chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation. “ZAP is a model of community-driven success that we can all feel proud of — one penny at a time.” Read more.
Share Your Perspective
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A homeless camp is pictured next to the Jordan River across from Cottonwood Park in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 29, 2024. The city has initiated a general obligation bond project at the park, actively engaging with the community to gather ideas on enhancing the space.
Homelessness in Utah is on the rise, but permanent supportive housing programs are working, new data shows. As Utah leaders work to create a new shelter, I want to know: What do you see contributing to homelessness in your community? What solutions would you like to see enacted? Tell me here.
From Bagley’s Desk
Brain Free Zone | Pat Bagley
I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.
