In the highly anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off, reigniting concerns amongst voters about their ages. With Biden at 81 years old and Trump at 78 years old, voters across the country watched intently, anxious about the fitness of both candidates to lead the nation.

The debate, which left many voters disillusioned, only intensified these worries. In interviews conducted by the BBC, Democratic, Republican, and independent voters expressed their concerns about Biden's fitness for the ticket. Despite his underwhelming performance during the debate, some voters remain committed to supporting him.

One long-time Democrat, who found the debate difficult to watch, stated that she will still vote blue in November regardless of the candidates' performances. Expressing her discontent with Trump and everything he stands for, she describes Biden as a better human being but felt disappointed by his performance. She emphasized feeling sympathy for both Biden and the United States, but believes that there is no choice but to "ride it out" by voting blue.

On the other hand, Dominic, a self-identified Libertarian who previously voted third-party in 2016 and 2020, is now backing Trump wholeheartedly. He expressed surprise at Biden's poor performance, believing the Republicans had set themselves up for failure, and praised Trump for appearing more presidential and striking the right tone. Dominic noted the contrast between the 2016 Trump and the one on stage during this debate, commending Trump for not taking cheap shots at Biden's age. This time, he plans to enthusiastically vote for Trump, a change from his previous stance.

Meanwhile, Connor, a Democrat who voted for Biden in 2020, stated that he has reservations about a second Biden term due to concerns about the president's age. Despite acknowledging the competence of the people surrounding Biden and his administration's achievements, Connor expresses less confidence in Biden's ability to lead the country now than ever before. He notes the Biden administration's accomplishments, including efforts on infrastructure, rallying allies, pardoning marijuana offenders, investing in clean energy, and reducing prescription drug prices. However, he questions whether Biden is the best figurehead for these policies and moments. Despite his concerns, Connor makes it clear that he cannot be convinced to vote for Trump, citing his reduced faith in the election system due to Trump's actions and the disagreement among his own advisers.

As the conventions approach and the parties formalize their choice of candidate, voters on both sides of the political spectrum are grappling with concerns about the ages and fitness of President Biden and former President Trump. With the November election drawing closer, it remains to be seen how these concerns will impact voters' ultimate decision at the ballot box.