The time has come for a new generation to hit the polls and assert their voices in our democracy. Voting in the 2024 presidential election, many Cavaliers will take their first major step on their journey of civic engagement, eager to see changes that align with what they believe in, their values, concerns and hopes for the future. Ultimately, the new voters will play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in 2024 and upcoming years. However, while bubbling-in a circle next to a candidate’s name might seem like a simple task, lots comes to mind before making the final decision.
Students have the responsibility to gather information in order to make a well-informed decision. Yet, with a vast abundance of information and misinformation, students must be prudent on what to consider when researching. From social media, to news articles, to friends and family, many turn to different sources in order to solidify their decision.
“When researching the candidates and amendments, I mostly relied on news articles and social media. News articles provided in-depth information on each candidate’s policies and background, which helped me make a more informed choice. Social media, on the other hand, gave me insights into other young people’s perspectives and opinions, which made the issues feel more relevant. I chose these sources because they were easily accessible.” senior Andrew Acevedo said.
“I used news sources like FoxNews and Cable News Network go get both perspectives of both sides. Both of these sources are biased and I feel like using both of them would show what the other side leaves out. I also get information from outside sources like YouTube channels, like Dylan Page” senior Lorenzo Quintana said.
“First I talked to my family and a couple friends to get their opinions on things, then I also read news articles and watched the news. Another thing that really helped me make my decision was watching the presidential debates and interviews with them. For the amendments though, before voting, the poll workers gave us a piece of paper outlining the amendments and what they defended just so we could be prepared when voting,” senior Isabella Arias.
Facing multiple contrasting opinions, informations and choices, pressure to make the “right” decision is inflicted on virtually every voter. Yet, this pressure is amplified with high school students since they are navigating a new process with little to no guidance. However, some efforts are made in order to get students acclimated to this process. A notable one was the Mock Election held by the Political Activism and Civic Engagement Club. In addition, many students reach out to teachers, staff and other adults in order to facilitate the steps in their new journey.
“Although most people in our school can’t vote, I think it’s important that we see a representation of how our school would vote. I also hosted the mock election to show students how engaged they can be in our democracy, hopefully it’ll motivate students to vote in the next election,” senior and president of Gables’ PACE club, Natalie Schwartz said.
“I chose to vote in the mock election because I wanted to practice exercising my civic duty even though I’m not old enough. I think that the mock election will show students how exciting it can be to participate in an election. I also voted because it’s fun to experience voting, even when you can’t actually vote,” junior Orly Schoolman-Wood said.
“I chose to vote in the mock election because I wanted to see who would win with my vote, at least in my community. Although I can’t vote in the election yet, I really wanted my voice to be heard. I also thought it would be cool too see who my peers would vote for,” freshman Audrey Schwartz said.
Facing such radical differences between parties and their ideologies, students’ opinions are divided. With some students celebrating the win, others are disappointed with the outcome, while some are left feeling like the election will have minimal effects on the country. However, a universally-upheld opinion is one of uncertainty for the future.
“I strongly believe that there was a lot at stake, the whole limbo we’ve been stuck in when it comes to our economy, our rights and identity politics, stressed lots of people out. So overall, I think everyone was really on edge and everyone wanted to know who would come out on top. Yet, in my opinion, I feel like our country has been in ruins for a while and I think this election will be bringing a pretty positive change based on the changes [former president Donald Trump] has made previously,” senior Melissa Hernandez said.
“I feel like the two polar sides of this election really made it feel so significant and so much more important. On one side, people were saying if former president Trump won it would be the end of the world, yet on the other hand, people were acting as if [Vice President Kamala Harris] would be our saving grace. Honestly, I don’t think much will change, I think that presidents only have so much power and in the end I’m not really worried about it,” sophomore Hailey Martinez said.
“Honestly, I’m pretty unhappy, I think that he’s just running again in order to give himself immunity from being convicted for his felony charges. In all other first world countries, convicted criminals can’t even run for any government position, let alone for the position of president. I think he should not be president, he is a convict and that the loss on the democratic side is probably going to cause a change for the worse,” junior Linus Boettcher said.
