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Climate change becomes a key issue for some young voters in 2020 election

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Posted at 6:30 PM, Oct 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-29 18:34:22-04

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — On Wednesday morning, before the polls opened in Franklin County, Frankfort Youth Climate Strike members stood 100 feet from the downtown voting location. They held signs that said things like "vote to protect our planet" and "vote out the fossil fuels."

"Just reminding voters to vote for the climate, and to vote for our future," said Natalie Dufour, the group's co-chair.

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Dufour said her group is not advocating for any specific candidate. They're just asking voters to consider who will be best when it comes to environmental changes.

"It's our future," said Dufour. "How we vote in this election could determine how we're going to live in the next couple of decades."

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This is a view that is shared by other Americans as well. Polling shows that for some people, particularly young voters, the environment and climate change are key issues in this election.

Polling also shows that some of these voters aren't necessarily excited by either presidential candidates' stances on how to remedy climate change. However, Dufour sees this election as a starting point.

"It might not be perfect. Life isn't perfect. We're not going to get the perfect candidate that we want," said Dufour. "But I think, as long as we have someone in the White House and not just in the White House - city, local, state government - who will listen to us, we can keep doing this. We can keep taking to the streets, talking to voters, just trying to make a difference."