ATLANTA — Gen Z voters are realizing their power when it comes to the results of the 2024 presidential election.
That's why some candidates are turning their focus to younger voters, especially in Georgia.
Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a virtual address to young voters all around the country with Voters of Tomorrow. The organization held a summit at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta. It calls the moment "The Year of the Youth."
"Your generation is leading on the most important issues of our time," Harris said.
More than 50 youth showed up.
Voters on both sides recognize how important young people will be in the election.
Winslow Jones is the president of the Atlanta Young Republicans.
"The young vote, the 18 to 40, is going to be very--the election results are going to be very dependent outcomes, and very dependent on the young vote," Jones said.
Marion Smart, 21, is the Vice President of Voters of Tomorrow. This is his first time voting in a presidential election.
"Atlanta and Georgia, as a whole, has always been a state of transformational change," Smart said. "People have counted us out for many years, but a strong base for the Democratic Party is in Georgia. And those votes matter."
That's why Smart is hoping the summit will ramp up support.
Jones said Former President Trump will have to do the same to win the state because she's noticed how close the margins are.
"I just looked at a recent poll done in Georgia. And so, they had it separated out by age categories," Jones continued. "So, you had 46.8% for Kamala, 46.7% for Donald Trump. So, that leaves 6.5% undecided.
There has to be a decision on where the youth stands.
Smart said what's driving Harris' supporters to the polls are climate change, gun violence, education, and abortion bans.
"Reproductive rights is an important issue for me," Smart said. "They should not have less rights than my grandparents or their grandparents."
Opposition to Project 2025 was a big topic at the summit as well.
"Trump and Project 2025 do not represent me or the values of my collegiate mates or my friends," Smart said.
Jones said she understands how Project 2025 can be polarizing for young voters.
"The heart behind that can be good," Jones said. "However, it does appeal to the people on the very, far right end of the spectrum. And so I, I do agree that yes, that could deter people away."
However, she believes if young Republicans focus on the message and the issues, such as the economy, inflation, world peace, national security, and education, republicans can win Georgia this year.
"I want to see change in how things have been in the past four years," Jones said.
Harris is expected to visit Atlanta for a campaign event Tuesday.
Election Day is 100 days away.