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Uncertainty And Discouragement Shape The Experience of First-Time Voters

Allie Folger voted in her first presidential election this year. Youth reporter Ellie Stevens interviewed Folger and two other young people about their views on the presidential candidates for her podcast, "Lunch Break."
Allie Folger voted in her first presidential election this year. Youth reporter Ellie Stevens interviewed Folger and two other young people about their views on the presidential candidates for her podcast, "Lunch Break."
Allie Folger voted in her first presidential election this year. Youth reporter Ellie Stevens interviewed Folger and two other young people about their views on the presidential candidates for her podcast, "Lunch Break."
Credit Allie Folger, courtesy of Kamaya Truitt
Allie Folger voted in her first presidential election this year. Youth reporter Ellie Stevens interviewed Folger and two other young people about their views on the presidential candidates for her podcast, "Lunch Break."

Youth reporter Ellie Stevens hears a lot about what adults want out of the election. But the high school senior felt that she didn’t know what her peers wanted from the candidates running this year. 

Host Frank Stasio talks with WUNC youth reporter Ellie Stevens about young voters' views on the presidential election.

In an episode of her podcast “Lunch Break,” Stevens set out to explore that topic by interviewing three young people about how the first presidential debate influenced their voting decisions. The discussion brought up feelings of uncertainty and disappointment in the chaotic nature of both candidates fighting to be heard. Host Frank Stasio talks with Stevens about her podcast and what she learned about young people’s views in the aftermath of the debate.

Copyright 2020 North Carolina Public Radio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
Kaia Findlay is a producer for The State of Things, WUNC's daily, live talk show. Kaia grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a household filled with teachers and storytellers. In elementary school, she usually fell asleep listening to recordings of 1950s radio comedy programs. After a semester of writing for her high school newspaper, she decided she hated journalism. While pursuing her bachelor’s in environmental studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, she got talked back into it. Kaia received a master’s degree from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism, where she focused on reporting and science communication. She has published stories with Our State Magazine, Indy Week, and HuffPost. She most recently worked as the manager for a podcast on environmental sustainability and higher education. Her reporting passions include climate and the environment, health and science, food and women’s issues. When not working at WUNC, Kaia goes pebble-wrestling, takes long bike rides, and reads while hammocking.