The first presidential debate is happening Tuesday, and young voters are mobilizing for this year's election in big numbers.

"For most of us the first time we cared about a presidential election or really got tuned into politics was in 2016 when we saw this mass polarization of the people that we look to make political decisions," said Sami DeRagon, a junior and member of the Siena Democrats.

"We're running out of time to make decisions that will ultimately negatively impact our lives if we don't change them has really gotten people involved and as Sami was saying, the polarization we saw in 2016 — the line in the sand —if you're either with this person or against this person, or you're for this or against this really made a lot of Gen Zers stop and think, 'well what am I for?' ” said Nicholas Discala, a sophomore and member of Siena Republicans.

Our Erika Leigh spoke with political science students at Siena College from both their Democratic and Republican clubs on campus about the issues they're hoping to hear President Donald Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden tackle and why they believe Gen Z is the key to this election.

Erika: What are you looking for in this debate?

Discala: “The good things that have happened the last four years under his administration and also an articulation of what he plans to do in his second term. I think that's a really big issue for a lot of voters.”

DeRagon: “For Joe Biden to articulate what his policy preferences are just so that regular voters can not only him as a choice that's anti-Trump but also as someone they'd actually be interested in voting for.”

Erika: What are some of the most important issues you're hoping President Trump is going to address tonight in that second term?

Discala: “Making sure pro-Constitution, pro-life justices are appointed.”

Erika: What are you hoping to hear about issues the former vice president will tackle?

DeRagon: “Who he wants to put on the Supreme Court and what his litmus tests might be for a Supreme Court justice. But we're in the middle of a global pandemic and if we're not talking about health care, we're doing something wrong.”

Erika: I want to go back to you [Nick] for that just to talk about the president's coronavirus response.

Discala: “I hope he expands on some of the additional coronavirus measures he's planning on putting into place... I also hope the president does address some of the things he did wrong... I think that'll be a really strong message to voters who are a little tepid about voting for him again.”

Erika: What do you think President Trump needs to do to win this debate tonight?

Discala: “I think the president has to keep up with his messaging and keep on the attack. I think pressing the vice president on his policies and flip flops are really important, and I think once the vice president becomes flustered the president will really show who's more capable and ready to lead.”

Erika: What do you think the vice president needs to do tonight to win this debate?

DeRagon: “Keeping his focus is going to be something that is going to help him to one, articulate himself better and to make him seem like a calm, and more presidential choice.”

Erika: Why is it so important for Gen Z to vote?

DeRagon: “Gen Z and millennials make up 40 percent of eligible voters at this point making them the largest voting block ... and if Gen Zers turn out they could have a really profound impact on the election.”

Discala: “The consequences of the decisions made in the next four to eight years are going to have the most impact when we are entering the middle years of adulthood. When we're searching to buy homes, we're searching to be starting families, when we're paying more taxes. Issues like that — we should have a say in.”

The virtual watch party at Siena Tuesday night on Zoom is being hosted by the non-partisan club on campus, so everyone will come together to watch.

It's something DeRagon and Discala say both their clubs do regularly anyway, because their number one cause is making sure 100 percent of eligible voters on Siena's campus are voting in this upcoming election.

They've been working on efforts to help voters get mail-in ballots, they say school has on-campus drop boxes for registrations and for ballots, they're helping students who plan to vote in person know where their polling site is and they're even making sure students from out of state are all set for the upcoming election.

The debate Tuesday night airs on Spectrum News. Stay tuned after the debate for a full breakdown.