The ability to vote is one of many things teenagers look forward to on their 18th birthday. This year, most first-year students at Howard are anticipating a historic election for their first time at the polls, one where a Howard graduate is on the ballot. 

For many, the 2024 presidential election is significant. Some voters believe that it will only set the trajectory for the next few years of American life. To others, it will affect the coming decades. Either way, Howard’s first-time voters are solidly aware of the election’s importance.

“I’m concerned about going back in time,” said Kamille Brooks, an 18-year-old FTIC Finance major. “I know history repeats itself, but I don’t want to be here when it repeats, so I hope we can continue to move forward as a nation.”

The anticipation ahead of the election has only increased due to Joe Biden’s withdrawal. Howard freshmen described feeling indifferent to the election when it was between President Biden and Donald Trump, but still committed to vote. Indifference was replaced by enthusiasm as it became clear that Kamala Harris would become the Democratic nominee.

“I feel like Biden really didn’t have a lasting impact on the country as a whole, and I don’t think he was going to do anything to benefit us... it was like picking the lesser of two evils... Now I’m very excited,” said freshman honors student Robert Abron.

The excitement was heightened once Vice President Harris made a surprise appearance on campus. On August 12, the second day of Bison Week, rumors swirled that Harris was on campus. A crowd gathered slowly but surely around Cramton auditorium, growing and dissipating as time passed.

When Harris finally appeared outside the auditorium, several students had been waiting for hours in the hot sun. Even so, she was greeted by screams of excitement.

"You are being educated in this most superior educational institution in a way that you will be the leaders of our nation and in our world,” the Vice President said.

“Inspiring,” said freshman International Business major Kanaan Guilford on Vice President Harris’s appearance on campus. “Knowing that a presidential candidate came from the university that I’m currently studying at, that’s spectacular.”

Other first-years described feeling "empowered,” “proud,” and “joyous” upon seeing the Vice President on campus.

The response was characteristic of Harris’ popularity among young voters, especially compared to Joe Biden. According to Axios, 45 percent of young people have an “extremely or somewhat favorable view” of Kamala Harris (versus 33 percent for Biden). Additionally, The median age of Harris campaign donors is 10 years younger than that of the Biden campaign, according to the New York Times.

The Harris campaign has pointedly used social media to try to win over young voters. Her campaign account, Kamala HQ, has invoked the ‘Brat summer’ trend in several posts (based on artist Charli XCX’s latest album). Her campaign has also capitalized upon the Internet furor surrounding a quote of hers from a May 2023 speech: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” The phrase has been reused millions of times in TikTok, memes, and remixes, which has indirectly boosted the Harris campaign.

Howard freshmen report feeling drawn to Kamala for a reason other than internet popularity — representation. She is the first Black woman and the first woman of Asian descent on a major party ticket. The connection to Harris is strengthened by her status as a Howard alum.

“Coming to Howard I see so many like-minded... well-rounded Black students... That’s a really beautiful thing to see.” said freshman Human Performance major Dylan Frye.

The excitement of their first opportunity to vote has multiplied in the minds of Howard freshmen as they consider the historical significance of this election. While settling into a campus that has long been at the epicenter of social and political change, they prepare to contribute to  change at a time unlike any other in this nation’s history.

Visitvote.gov for information on voter registration.