LONG BEACH, Calif. — While young voters continue to be the smallest group when it comes to voter turnout, data for this election shows voter registration numbers and mailed-in ballots for Generation Z (voters under 23 years old) seem to be on the rise, compared to the 2016 election.

Will Rodriguez is one of the Gen Z voters who plans to vote in-person on Election Day. The college student just turned 18 two months ago, and since that day, Rodriguez says he’s been studying up on candidates, propositions, and all things election.

“On a scale from one to 10, I’m about a 10," he said.

This election is the first one Rodriguez is eligible to vote in. But politics and elections are topics he’s stayed on top of since his freshman year of high school, when he joined a bipartisan political club.

"So, I would say four or five years I’ve been doing my research — finding out what I believe in and what I want for this country," he said.

Data is pointing toward fewer young people avoiding politics this year. According to Political Data Inc., voter registration among Gen Z voters has reached more than 2.4 million for this election compared to 800,000 during the 2016 election. But the number of young people who actually vote remains the smallest group of voters.

Rodriguez says he has some theories on why voter turnout among his generation has historically remained low.

“I would say they need an issue that’s close to them, or something that impacts them directly, because that’s what will get them out to vote," he said.

The 18-year-old says that’s the reason he’s voting during this election. Rodriguez says there are several issues on the ballot that he personally cares about, including Proposition 22.

“Before I actually got hired at the job I’m at right now, I actually wanted to be an app-based driver.”

Rodriguez says, of course, he also cares about who will be the next president. It’s the reason he took extra care in filling out his first official ballot with a blue pen.

The first time voter says he was a bit nervous filling out his ballot, and nervous about voting for the first time, but says he knows voting is an important step in shaping his future.  And he says it feels good, “It’s good to know I’m making a difference, even if it’s just a small difference.”

Because Rodriguez says every vote counts, no matter who you’re voting for. And he says if you’re choices don’t win this time, there’s always the next election.