20 BuzzFeed Staffers Shared Why They're Voting In This Election And Who They're Voting For

Voting is one of the most important privileges in a democracy, and it's a freedom that most Americans had to fight for. In 2024, we are facing the most crucial presidential election in modern history. Here, the BuzzFeed staff defines what makes this election important to them.

"Vote 2024" graphic with American flag elements in the background
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1."I'll be honest, I wasn't going to vote for Joe Biden in this election. I would write someone in and focus on the down ballot, where I believe things are most important. Although I voted for Biden in 2020, I was just extremely discouraged in his ability to continue to lead this country. Trump is also nearly 80, and having an octogenarian president is not something I agree with. However, after Biden stepped down and endorsed Kamala Harris, I felt an excitement about the election that reached 2008 levels."

"My father raised me a certain way. He worked for Rev. Al Sharpton in the '90s and early 2000s. He worked alongside several prominent social activist groups, from the Black Panthers to the NAACP. I was attending protests and rallies before I could tie my shoes. As a Black man in America, I have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to politicians. I also understand that every single right I have was fought for — from being able to poop indoors, to having a white fiancé and bi-racial kids, to being able to vote — literally every aspect of my life had to be won over via politics or protests. Or both. So although there's a level of 'fuck it all' in my system, I know I cannot simply disengage from politics.

I will be voting for Kamala Harris for several reasons. She isn't perfect. Nobody is, and I don't need my president to pass a purity test. I just love a lot of the things she has done. She's highly educated, and very well-experienced. She bucked against the Clinton-era three strikes laws as a prosecutor in California, limiting a 'third strike' so it didn't include people who committed a nonviolent crime. Cannabis offenses went down dramatically during her tenure as AG, and she has supported legalizing it. Under Harris, the California Department of Justice became the first statewide program to adopt a body camera requirement. She started the first-of-its-kind police training on implicit bias. She helped create the Back on Track initiative, a first-of-its-kind reentry program for first-time nonviolent offenders between 18–30 years old. It gave young people who committed their first nonviolent crime a chance to earn a GED and/or enter a job placement program. Harris got Backpage.com, essentially a site for prostitution that was RIFE with pedos (also a lot of other sex crimes), shut down, and the creators charged. And she did all this before being elected senator, where she has supported liberal policies more often than even Bernie Sanders.

Unfortunately, Trump has said several xenophobic, sexist, and racist things, and also has been sued by the Department of Justice. In 1973, the Justice Department sued him and his father for allegedly denying Black people who were trying to rent apartments in predominantly white buildings. 'Testimony showed that applications filed by Black apartment seekers were marked with a C for colored.' Not to mention, over the last several decades, more than two dozen women have publicly accused Trump of rape, kissing, groping without consent, and other forms of sexual harassment.

Harris supports abortion rights, queer rights, and most importantly, she isn't a nasty person. She doesn't insult countless people just because they disagree. She doesn't tear people down for clicks. She doesn't cozy up to dictators. She doesn't fire anyone who isn't blindly loyal to her, and only her. I believe Donald Trump is a threat to democracy and, overall, just a selfish, narcissistic, very old man who should just enjoy golf and ride off into the sunset. Leave us alone, please. This is an easy vote for me as a father, a bisexual, and a Black man."

—Karlton Jahmal

2."Whether in local or national elections, I know how important it is to exercise my right to vote."

"I'm voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in this election because she advocates for bodily autonomy, abortion rights, and LGBTQ+ rights — issues that are crucial to ensuring everyone can make personal decisions about their lives and bodies (and I’ll be damned if I let Donald Trump of all people tell me what I can and can’t do with my body). Harris understands that access to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental aspect of healthcare and personal freedom. Former president Donald Trump's dangerous rhetoric threatens to undermine the progress we’ve made. His divisive language and policies create an environment of fear and discrimination that does not represent the America I want to live in. It's of the utmost importance to me to support a leader who will protect and advance the rights of marginalized communities, and I fear my therapy bills will be WAY too high if Trump takes office again."

—Sarah Wainschel

Kamala Harris in a blazer and pearls waves from the steps of an airplane with the Vice President's seal visible
Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images

3."I'm voting for so many, many reasons, but as a young breast cancer survivor, healthcare is my number one."

"Donald Trump has spent nearly a decade calling to end the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). The Affordable Care Act is the reason millions of people in our country have access to healthcare, and its protections for pre-existing conditions are so important for anyone who has any kind of health condition, from allergies to cancer. Before the ACA, even pregnancy was once considered a pre-existing condition that could be used to deny insurance coverage.

Trump only has 'concepts of a plan' for how he might replace it. That kind of 'didn't do the reading' answer might fly in eighth-grade English class, but it's not good enough when we're talking about people's health. Without health insurance coverage, my monthly doctor's bill would eat up my entire income, and millions more Americans are in the same situation. I want to live in an America where we take care of each other, so that's why I'm voting for Kamala Harris."

—Megan Liscomb

4."I'm voting for Donald Trump on the basis of four reasons: 1) the economy, 2) abortion law, 3) international relations, and 4) immigration."

"State-regulated abortion law is in the best interest of our healthcare professionals and local communities. States in which the vast majority of citizens are anti-abortion will not be forced to allow it to be permitted in their state legislature, instead allowing the local law to accurately reflect the will of the people.

There has been record-level inflation in recent years that show promise of being reduced during Trump's presidency under his current economic plan. According to Wharton School economists, while there may be an 'additional debt burden on future generations' and a risk of increasing the national deficit, under Trump's economic campaign policy, 'Low, middle, and high-income households in 2026 and 2034 all fare better under the campaign proposals on a conventional basis.'

We will once again hold authority, power, and influence on the international political stage. When Trump was in power, ISIS was kept in check because he successfully threatened and intimidated their leader, Taiwan was acknowledged as a free state separate from the radical communism of China, power-hungry authoritarian dictators like Kim Jong Un were forced to come to the table and discuss compromise and shed light on the gross human rights violations under their reign.

A proper immigrant vetting exists and is necessary. But if we grant asylum to anyone and everyone, our cities will fall apart. Everyone loves America, but if we allow everyone to have a piece of a pie, we will dilute it until there is nothing left. I am not saying that there is no vetting, nor am I spreading misinformation about a lack of background checks, but I am noting that these new ways to enter the US in recent years and gain temporary legal immigrant status have looser qualifications.

These are all things that I believe Trump can and will accomplish, and things that his opponent has shown that she can't do or will do the opposite of. We're electing the president of AMERICA, let's be more objective and start doing what's best for America by and large."

—Joane Joseph

Donald Trump with his thumb up
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

5."I’m voting to honor my grandmother. Hearing stories of her growing up in the Jim Crow South are utterly heartbreaking. To know that I can choose to vote when people like her (and those who came before her) risked their lives to do so, is a privilege I can’t afford to overlook."

"I remember my mom getting emotional watching former president Barack Obama’s inauguration, saying, 'I wish your grandmother were here to see this.' To see Black Americans go from being turned away at the polls to seeing one’s name on the ballot would’ve been a big deal to her. The struggles that Black people experienced back then, and the voter suppression many still face today, is a huge reason why I’m voting in this election and every election that comes after.

But this also doesn’t mean I’m set on voting for Harris. Her comments on Palestine have been deeply disturbing, and frankly, being a woman of color is not enough to get my vote as a Black woman. All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk. However, voting third party runs the risk of simply not getting enough wins to win, thus leaving us with one of the other two candidates anyway. This is the first time I’ve felt conflicted about who exactly to vote for, but I hope I can make a vote my grandmother would be proud of."

—Amatullah Shaw

6."My vote for president feels more symbolic than anything else due to the electoral college (my state will go blue no matter what)."

"However, even symbolically, I would like to take a stand against Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, fascism, hate, and Project 2025. I also think it’s important to vote on state and local measures, where my vote may matter more — I try to be as informed as I can by reading voter guides. Abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, education, childcare support, gun laws, healthcare, and social programs are all important to me, but frankly, I’m pretty disillusioned with the power of my vote when it comes to any of these issues. Still, if I don’t participate at all in democracy, how can I ever expect things to change?"

—Hannah Marder

"I Voted" sticker featuring the American flag design
Zen Rial / Getty Images

7."I proudly voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election."

"As someone who identifies as a gay woman, I believe a vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for equality, freedom, and progress for underrepresented groups in the US. She has a realistic plan based on facts that will only make the US a more progressive society. She believes in reproductive freedom for women, supports LGBTQ+ rights, and is eager to give resources to small businesses that’ll better our economy. These are just a handful of policies I endorse from her thorough agenda as future president of the US.

Kamala Harris doesn’t lay down a toxic foundation that encourages physical violence in our country, unlike Donald Trump. She never hesitates to participate in conversations and answer difficult questions, and she does it with mindfulness that ultimately assures safety for our citizens.

So why did I vote for Kamala Harris? Because I believe everyone deserves a chance at a fulfilling life without threats of danger, which she’ll bring to fruition. She’s a candidate and politician of action and not exaggerated words. Kamala Harris will guide us on the right path toward a united country instead of a divided one, which has unfortunately been perpetuated since 2016.

Let’s make HERstory."

—Kayla Yandoli

8."I find myself more passionate than ever to help protect the futures of those in my beloved LGBTQ+ community who don't have the same level of privilege that I enjoy as a white, cisgender man — namely, trans people."

"I'm sick and tired of watching an alarming portion of this country become so casually comfortable in their anti-trans agenda as the most vibrant part of this community continues to face a never-ending wall of legislation against their existence.

Donald Trump has explicitly stated that he aims to roll back Title IX protections for transgender students (or "transgender insanity," which are his words, not mine), federally ban transgender athletes from playing on the team that matches their gender identity, and conduct a third-party investigation into gender-affirming hormone treatments increasing mental health risks — which could ultimately impact the availability of these lifesaving treatments for the people who need them most. Legislation aside, let's not forget about the millions of dollars his campaign is funneling into repulsive, degrading ads attacking transgender Americans in recent weeks, which normalize harmful anti-trans rhetoric and violence.

I could go on and on about this topic and so many others, but in short, I'm voting for Vice President Kamala Harris. While her record on this topic might not be spotless, her actions, words, and character make it clear that she's the only option on this ballot who has the potential to make significant strides toward protecting trans Americans. To take the 'moral high ground' by voting third-party or abstaining is to use my privilege as a white, cishet man to opt out of a lifesaving battle for the most vulnerable among us — and that doesn't sit right with me."

—Ross Yoder

People holding a large rainbow flag in a park, participating in a pride event
Philippe Gerber / Getty Images

9."As a Gen Z'er participating in my second presidential election, I will be voting to ensure that younger generations get to experience the freedoms I was privileged to grow up with, granted by our democracy."

"I’ve only been eligible to vote since 2020; ironically, elections since then have been the most significant in modern history. I remember sitting in class in high school as we discussed moments in history when leaders used their power to take away freedoms, yet so many looked the other way out of fear, convenience, or apathy. I remember being bewildered at how enough people could become numb to injustice. I’m voting because I want the younger generations to one day learn about this specific moment in their history classes — the 2024 election — and know that I played a small part in ensuring that freedom and democracy prevailed for them."

—Michaela Bramwell

10."I’m voting in the 2024 election because I believe it’s a civic duty and a privilege, but I’m also voting because, quite frankly, I’m fucking exhausted."

"The fact that we as US citizens have to face the possibility of a Trump presidency (and the implications of that) for a THIRD time is frustrating and embarrassing, and I never want to experience this ever again. It’s my hope that by casting my vote for Kamala Harris, I’m helping to swing the pendulum toward more progressive policies and possibly undo some of the reprehensible damage Donald Trump and the rest of the Republican Party have done to human rights and the quality of life in this country. Lastly, I’m voting on measures at the local and state level, because that’s really where positive change starts. If you live in the Los Angeles area and have yet to cast your vote, check out this helpful guide."

—Shelby Heinrich

A pile of buttons featuring the words "Vote" and "2024" with stars and stripes designs, symbolizing an upcoming election
Tiero / Getty Images

11."The first time I could vote in a presidential election was in 2016, and I proudly cast my vote against Donald Trump. Little did I know that that would not be the last time."

"Since 2016, every presidential election I could participate in has had Donald Trump on the ticket, and, quite frankly, I’m hoping this time will be the last. I am voting because I am tired of the hateful and divisive rhetoric that I’ve been hearing over the previous eight years, which has, in my opinion, only become worse and more unhinged. I am voting because I believe in a woman’s right to choose and a person’s right — no matter who they love or identify as — to exist without threat. I am voting because I would like to hopefully experience a presidential election cycle where democracy isn’t quite literally at stake. Oh, and I am voting because, as someone who lives in one of the most conservative cities in California, I would like to see all the MAGA merch off the streets once and for all.

There are changes I want to see within this country, and though neither candidate is perfect, I believe that Kamala Harris is the more reasonable candidate to suggest and voice these changes to, and that’s why I am voting for her (and already did!)."

—Dannica Ramirez

12."The reason why I'm voting is because it's one of the best ways to make my voice count and make a difference in this country."

"While I live in New York, and laws lean heavily in favor of Democratic views and beliefs, I vote because I want everyone (especially women) in the USA to feel like they have full autonomy over their bodies, that a ban on assault rifles occurs, and clean climate laws are protected."

—Raven Ishak

Sign with "Vote Here" and an arrow points towards a line of people waiting outside a building; voting scene
Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images

13."I’m voting for the same reason I always do — exercising my right to do so is a privilege I don’t take for granted. The world is pummeling back toward fascism in many ways, and millions of people at this very moment lack the basic right to make decisions about who they want to govern their countries."

"It’s not far-off history here in the US, either, that women and people of color also weren’t afforded the rights promised by our Constitution, including the right to vote. Democracy is a practice under constant revision, and I feel it’s my duty to myself, my loved ones, and my country to make my voice heard. And with the very real threat of autocracy looming, I feel it’s more important than ever not to let my hard-won voting rights go to waste. I’m voting not because I think it will be the magic bullet to save us, but because I feel it’s my obligation to every Black woman who never could — and to future generations who will feel the effects of what we do now on climate change, foreign policy, reproductive rights, and more long after we’re gone."

—Siena Giljum

14."I vote because when I talk about women's healthcare, people act like it's a debate. It really isn't. My kidneys are mine, my brain is mine, my uterus is mine. And Imma put my vote where my mouth is."

—Jill Chipley

Ballot section for U.S. President and Vice President showing Kamala D. Harris with Tim Walz (Democratic) and Donald J. Trump with JD Vance (Republican)
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

15."As an elder Gen Z'er who has never voted in an election without Trump’s name on the ballot, I vote for all of us so, so tired of living with a constant, ungodly level of anxiety trying to make it from one 'unprecedented time' to the next."

"I graduated college straight into a global pandemic and the dumpster fire that has been existing in the 2020s — from helplessly watching Roe v. Wade be overturned to the senseless attacks on trans rights. I’m gonna be honest — as a queer, Latina woman, I’m fucking tired. I’m tired of opening my phone and seeing the latest racist, misogynistic, hateful thing Trump has said blowing up my timeline, and if Project 2025 is any indication, it’s only bound to get worse if he’s elected. I’m angry, overwhelmed, and refuse to do this again. So, this childless cat lady will gladly be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in this year’s election.

Listen, I know you’ve probably heard people say, 'This is the biggest election of our lifetimes' for, like, three elections in a row now, but it’s true. So much is on the line. Voting is a privilege that not everyone has. People have fought for decades for the right to do so, so please, please, please don’t let that go to waste simply because you don’t 'love' your party’s candidate or don't feel like your vote makes a difference. Kamala Harris certainly isn’t my idea of a perfect candidate either, but I’ll be fighting like hell to get her into office, because the reality of a second Trump term is so, so much worse. Please, vote! Vote in your local elections! Go to the polls with your friends! Sign up for a phone bank in swing states! Our futures quite literally depend on it."

—Angelica Martinez

16."I’ll never forget the pit in my stomach during the 2016 election, slowly watching that needle sway toward Donald Trump’s name as the night went on."

"I reluctantly trudged to class the next morning, unsure what the point of my Environmental Science degree was anymore if a climate change denier would be in the Oval Office. We spent class sharing our grievances while professors attempted to console us. One student shared a text from her father that said, 'How is this going to affect you?? Really??' So, for that former student and anyone else who might get this reaction from friends and family: I’m here to address that question eight years later, in the same position, if not one that’s even more terrifying.

A second term for Donald Trump will not only affect every single one of us; it will affect democracy as a whole. This is not an exaggeration — we are talking about a man who allegedly admires characteristics about Hitler, a man who told insurrectionists he “loved” them, a man who has been found liable for sexual abuse. So, on Nov. 5, I am voting for my bodily autonomy. I am voting because fundamental rights for minorities should not be up for debate. I am voting to save education and protect our public schools. I am voting so we don’t all wake up with a pit in our stomachs on Nov. 6."

—Claudia Santos

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris shaking hands on the debate stage
Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

17."There are many valid reasons to be motivated to vote in this election (from women's reproductive rights to the safeguarding of our democracy), but one major reason I'm voting is personal: my daughter."

"In 2016, my daughter was in grade school and very excited about the prospect of a woman president. Hillary Clinton was qualified, handled herself with dignity, and spoke with insight and depth on all the issues. On the other side was an unqualified man with little understanding of the issues, who bloviated and insulted in the most crude, schoolyard way, and who was accused of sexual assault while bragging about grabbing women's genitals.

When my daughter went to bed on election night, she was filled with hope that she would wake up to our first woman president. I was hoping for that, too, to show her and all the other little girls out there that anything was possible for them. But early returns weren't looking good, and I kept asking myself: 'How do I explain to her that the American people not only preferred a man to an incredibly qualified woman — but a man so arrogant, boorish, and ignorant?'

In the morning, my daughter ran into the kitchen and asked, 'Did she win?!' I said, 'I'm afraid not, sweetie.' Her face dropped, trying to process this. 'Why?' she said. 'I don't understand.' I'm unsure what I said in response, but it probably wasn't too comforting. I, too, didn't understand and was grappling with a new understanding of our country.

Now, my daughter is in high school, and we again have an incredible, inspiring woman running for president against a man who lies, whines, and insults like a spoiled toddler. This time, my daughter is far more aware of how problematic Trump is. She is a teenager who lived through the staggering lows of his administration, who is old enough to understand the allegations of sexual abuse Trump was found liable for in a court of law, and who can see through his bald-faced lies, like that schools are performing gender-confirming surgeries without parental consent. My daughter's response to this? 'Pfft. They won't even give us an aspirin without calling home for permission!'

Just as in 2016, I am hopeful that my daughter will see a woman become president. But I'm nervous again. How will I possibly explain it if he again defeats an incredibly qualified woman? If he wins, I suppose, it would teach her a brutal truth about what it means to be a woman in America, but that's not the America I want for her. I don't want an America where not just a man — but a deeply flawed man — beats the best and brightest woman every time. I want a future of hope for my daughter and all women. I want them to be able to say, 'We're not going back.' So, if that's the America you want, too, please take the time to vote and stand up for what we can be."

—Michael Spohr

18."Coming from a long line of strong Black women, the importance of voting was drilled into my head at an early age. My mother would always say 'our ancestors gave their blood, sweat, and tears to afford us the opportunity to vote.' As a Black woman, I know that my right to vote has only been federally protected for about half a century, and I understand that some people would take that right away if given the chance."

"So many say this election is about saving democracy, but I think it’s more than that. I think it shows how much we care about our country and all the people that make up this place. I vote to protect our country from someone that can’t see the beauty of it, who constantly insults states and people because he thinks he is above us all. For all our flaws, we are a country that repeatedly says we can do better. I refuse to watch us go backward.

The United States is a diverse country, filled with so many beautiful and strong people who deserve to be protected from a wannabe dictator and his band of sycophants. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe, some government officials took that as a challenge to see what other rights they could strip from us. These are rights that so many have fought for over the years, and it’s heartbreaking to watch these same rights be snatched away by a few self-serving individuals who care only about the money in their own pockets.

I vote because I am done hearing hateful, racist, sexist, and homophobic rhetoric by bigots. The same people that chose to insult the beautiful commonwealth of Puerto Rico, because despite it being 2024, they still don’t understand that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States. Or maybe they do understand, but they don’t care because they don’t truly value this country.

Reflecting on the past, I remember the first time I got to vote. The excitement of voting intensified, as I got to vote for a Black man to be president. I stayed up late to watch the results, ignoring that I had an 8-a.m. class in the morning. The whole week leading up to that election was exciting, because even if he hadn’t won that election, I knew that I’d still be ok. I can’t say the same about this election.

Like so many other women and minorities, I am fearful of what will happen if a certain candidate wins the election. I am exhausted from waking up every day and finding out that while we were asleep, protections and rights were quietly stripped from us. I’m tired of knowing that there are some in power who don’t believe I deserve to be treated as an equal. I vote because I think it’s time we finally have a woman running this country. It’s time we start moving forward again."

—Tasia Bass

Kamala Harris on the debate stage with a contemplative look on her face
Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

19."There is so much at stake in this election."

"From abortion rights (Trump has proudly taken credit for the overturn of Roe v. Wade) to queer rights (Project 2025 is filled with anti-LGBTQ+ proposals) to racial equity (Trump has a long, documented history of racist statements), it’s abundantly clear that Kamala best aligns with the issues that matter to me. I’m voting to ensure human rights and the continuation of our very democracy."

—Morgan Sloss

20.And finally, "When I vote in this election, it will be for my grandpa Johnny. He was a proud Army veteran from a working-class family whose service afforded him the ability to attend college. He provided for his family as an auto worker for 50 years and served as the president of the United Auto Workers Local 549 in Ohio."

"He was deeply involved in Ohio politics, serving as a delegate in both of Jesse Jackson’s bids for president and Barack Obama’s. He and my grandmother raised three Black kids who have similar stories to tell as Vice President Kamala Harris did when she shared her experiences with busing at the height of desegregation.

My grandfather was a father figure to almost every Black kid in their small Ohio town. Before he passed, we couldn’t go anywhere without someone recognizing him and thanking him for having a big heart that was only matched by his work ethic. He was everything you hear politicians say the quintessential American should be to earn success in this country, yet he deserved so much more than it ever offered him.

He believed in our democracy and the everyday person’s role in it. And frankly, based on his life experiences I never understood why. What’s funny is, I don’t even think that belief was for himself. He believed for his kids and his grandkids.

He didn’t ever want us to know what it was like to have your mother raise white children for a living, but at the cost of being able to raise her own children the way she probably wanted. He lived that life growing up in a small town in Alabama. He wanted us to buy our own homes, afford having own families, and have access to the highest quality education possible without being in debt for the rest of our lives. And respectfully, that’s not asking too much.

So when I vote for Kamala Harris in this election, it will be because my grandfather, who passed away in 2020, won’t be able to and because he protected my right to do so. I’m voting for every Black person who had to pay poll taxes, march, endure physical attacks, and be imprisoned for my right to do so. I’m voting because 'going back' hasn’t ever been an option for someone who looks like me or my family members. There’s absolutely nothing there for us."

—Ashley Holt

Illustration of a voting box with "Your Voice Matters" text and a "Vote" ballot being inserted
Education Images / Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.