As American citizens we get the privilege to vote on who are public figures of authority will be. To vote is a liberty that we should not take for granted. It is important to remember that many people in foreign countries don't get to vote on who is in charge. As American students, most of us aren’t of age to vote, but a few seniors are. This is an exciting event in anyone's life. Not only is it exciting, but it can be confusing. Knowing who to vote for takes some research on the voter’s end. While some vote blindly, others look for more in a candidate than just a party affiliation.
Waiting in the (lengthy) line, filling out the ballot, and receiving the iconic “I’m a Georgia Voter” sticker all bring thoughts of voting to our heads. Emma LaPrad says that she is excited to vote but “it feels weird that I’m actually old enough to be a voter”.
Many adults may believe that teens and even young adults may still sheepishly follow their parents beliefs. This is not always the case. As adults hold more conservative views, it seems to be more popular to be more liberal as the younger generation, Or maybe the other way around. Nicholas Richards says that he is not voting within the same party as his parents and he feels pretty well informed about his decision. “I feel about 50/50”.
As we grow older, plenty of us may alter our political views as we develop a sense of what is important to us. This is all a part of our growth and development of our moral and social standards. Some are “die-hards” for their party while others may be more inquiring and willing to move parties if the reasons are right. Not only is Nicholas voting differently than his parents but he was also open to possibly voting outside of his claimed party in the future if the situation is right. Some issues that have been presented to today’s society are quite dividing. While some students such as Kenny Costin are concerned about what the president will do about the “police brutality problem”, others are focusing on what candidate has views that align with their religion. Faith O’Hara is a “catholic, so I keep in mind what that support in terms of my religion. So Hillary and the abortion thing kind of concerns me”.
This election is no doubt a historical one. Harsh party lines have been drawn and it has created an interesting dynamic between parties. Teens are still navigating this new responsibility and it is great to see students active in the political arena.