(WSIL) -- As of November 1st, nearly 10 million young people from 18-29 voted early or absentee.
Locally, many areas saw a high turnout of young people as well.
For the past four years, young people have been the center of many movements, pushing for change and inspiring others to vote, like Evan Dunklee, who voted Tuesday.
"I try not to do as much speaking on things like that but just listen to it you know like Black Lives Matter Movements and other LGTBQ communities. Just listen to what they say and to come out here and give them a voice every time," he said.
He says he was glad to see more young people go out and vote
"As we're growing up, you know, we're always told what to do and not always given a voice and I think that as a younger individual, this really gives us a chance to think on our own for once," he said.
SIU Student McKena Fox says this year was her first time voting
"It was great. I knew I was--I planned ahead because I figured it'd be lines and everything, but I was pretty fortunate whenever I was able to vote because there wasn't," she said.
She says she thinks the big turn out is because younger people are just tired of how things are ran right now.
"Some of the older generations have always been in control and I think if young people always fall in the habit of, 'I don't really like that!' And it's like if you don't like it, the only way to change it is to vote," she said.
Both say younger people will be key in building the future.
Younger people they often have different views from others, but in a sense, over time, a lot better," said Dunklee.
The Board of Elections in Chicago reports the age group from 18-21 had a turnout of more than 86,000 voters.
