As the Nov. 5 presidential general election approaches, conversations about voting are in the air. To get more students registered, BSU president Chase Merrill led a voting drive in the LHS Senior Commons on Oct. 10.
“I hosted the voting fest because I wanted to help educate students on voting and important local issues,” Merrill said. “I also wanted students to understand the history of voting in America and the oppression Black Americans faced to obtain the right.”
Out of her four years with the BSU, Merrill had never seen so much support and student engagement.
“I believe this event was incredibly successful,” Merrill said.
Voting is often regarded as a subject that only pertains to adults, but LHS teacher Janell Cinquini emphasizes the importance of youth voting.
“If more younger people voted, they would have to pay more attention to younger people issues,” Cinquini said.
The age group that typically has the smallest election voter turnout is from 18 to 29, making them the least represented in political matters that can impact their lives.
“I think registering to vote is really important,” senior Jacob Stuckey said. “Voting is the only way you can directly influence who’s in office and who makes policy that affects you.”
Voting isn’t just a federal issue.
“There’s a lot of attention that’s given to presidential candidates in the presidential election, but I would argue that our local elections are the most important,” said Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen.
Local decisions shape communities and especially impact youth as it will be their generations that face the repercussions of current legislations. While you aren’t able to vote until the age of 18, once you’re 16 and have either a driver’s permit or license, you’re eligible to register as a voter. Even if you didn’t get registered in time for this year’s election, there’s always next year to make a difference.