What are the biggest issues facing young adults in New York City?

Ms. Larcher: “The M.T.A. system — one of the biggest expenses for people who go to school in New York is transportation. I think de Blasio should work on making the train system more efficient and providing more free MetroCards for students.”

“And education,” she added. “New York has one of the most segregated school systems in the country. What we need to work on is trying to make sure that more students have more affordable higher education opportunities. We saw that recently with the Excelsior Scholarship.”

What’s the biggest challenge in getting young people to vote?

Ms. Tariq: “They don’t have that much trust in the government. They think voting doesn’t really help, that it’s not going to make a difference, that they don’t have a voice, and that whoever is up there just goes and does whatever they want.”

Another hurdle, she said, was the process. “I don’t understand why we have to register to vote,” she said, adding that voter registration should be automatic for all citizens.

Advice for first-time voters?

Ms. Tariq: “Don’t just vote for anyone that someone told you about; make your own choice. A lot of people depend on who other people are voting for. Do some research before you go vote because the person you’re voting for should really represent who you are and what you believe in.”