Americans, as members of a democratic nation, often neglect their responsibility to vote in elections for government officials. Whether it be because they feel that they’re vote will not count, or because they don’t feel confident enough in their own knowledge to make an educated vote, too many voting age citizens fail to show up to the polls year after year.
In 2012, during the most recent presidential election, only 54.87% of the voting age population participated in voting for the president (data obtained from the Federal Election Commission). That’s a shocking statistic that the number of people voting for the leader of the country is just tipping over half of the eligible population of voters. In a nation that puts such a high value on freedom and has fought so hard to give the right to vote to every citizen, it seems ridiculous that almost half the nation would simply give up that right by choice.
A large factor that contributes to low voter turnout is that people are simply oblivious as to what is going on within the government because they do not follow politics closely, or because they feel that because of the way the system is set up, their vote does not count for much.
“Voters don’t feel like they know enough to make an informed choice, or they don’t feel, sadly, like their voice has any meaning because of the electoral college or because there’s millions of other voters out there,” NHS government teacher Jason Edwards said, “Staying informed is the best way for young people to feel comfortable and confident that they have a voice, to ensure that causes they care deeply enough to get involved actually have ends that match what they want; you also can make sure that the government is being responsive to their wants and needs.”
Students, as well, were in agreement about the importance of keeping up with political news in order to have a better understanding of the world around them.
“I think it’s important to stay up to date with politics. We’re the incoming generation and we should know what’s going on in our country and to know what’s happening because we will eventually be in charge of leading it and taking it in the right direction,” NHS senior Constantine Gregoire said.
Other students agreed that it is important to stay informed in regards to politics and the decision making process of the government, but also admitted that they do not personally stay up to date with it whether because there is simply not enough time in the day, or because it is of little interest to them.
“I don’t personally follow politics, but I do think that it is important to so that you know how decisions are made in the place that you live in because it has such a huge impact on your daily life,” NHS senior Kate Davin said.
However, staying informed about politics can be accomplished as easily as listening to the news on the way to school in the morning or picking up the daily newspaper.
“It’s important to vote in order to have a say and take a part and let your voice be heard. There are other ways to be involved, but voting is the most obvious, the most accepted, the best known and some people would argue the most legitimate way, and the fairest way for everyone to be involved,” Edwards said, “After all, we can’t have a democracy unless people participate in that democracy.”
With the next presidential election approaching within the next two years, many NHS seniors and juniors will be of age and therefore eligible to cast their vote. The question now becomes, who will actually participate?
“I plan on voting but I also plan on educating myself by reading up on each nominees opinions and what they’re going to try and accomplish in the legislative process first so I don’t blind vote. If I voted without being informed it would be a waste of a vote,” Gregoire said.
Many people, however, choose not to vote simply because they do not think they can, whether it be because they or out of town, or are not registered to do so. But, there is a solution to every problem and here there is no exception. All government teachers in NHS hand out voter registration forms for their students to fill out in preparation for their eighteenth birthday, which are also available at the town hall or the post office. For those who will be away during election day, either on vacation or away at college, there is also an easy solution.
“If you say, ‘Well I can’t vote, I’m not going to be home next fall,’ that’s false. You can get an absentee ballot,” Edwards said.
As the up and coming generation of this country, high school students in particular should make a point to keep themselves informed, and when the time comes, take the necessary and proper steps towards becoming an eligible and active voter.
Americans, as members of a democratic nation, often neglect their responsibility to vote in elections for government officials. Whether it be because they feel that they’re vote will not count, or because they don’t feel confident enough in their own knowledge to make an educated vote, too many voting age citizens fail to show up to the polls year after year.
In 2012, during the most recent presidential election, only 54.87% of the voting age population participated in voting for the president (data obtained from the Federal Election Commission). That’s a shocking statistic that the number of people voting for the leader of the country is just tipping over half of the eligible population of voters. In a nation that puts such a high value on freedom and has fought so hard to give the right to vote to every citizen, it seems ridiculous that almost half the nation would simply give up that right by choice.
A large factor that contributes to low voter turnout is that people are simply oblivious as to what is going on within the government because they do not follow politics closely, or because they feel that because of the way the system is set up, their vote does not count for much.
“Voters don’t feel like they know enough to make an informed choice, or they don’t feel, sadly, like their voice has any meaning because of the electoral college or because there’s millions of other voters out there,” NHS government teacher Jason Edwards said, “Staying informed is the best way for young people to feel comfortable and confident that they have a voice, to ensure that causes they care deeply enough to get involved actually have ends that match what they want; you also can make sure that the government is being responsive to their wants and needs.”
Students, as well, were in agreement about the importance of keeping up with political news in order to have a better understanding of the world around them.
“I think it’s important to stay up to date with politics. We’re the incoming generation and we should know what’s going on in our country and to know what’s happening because we will eventually be in charge of leading it and taking it in the right direction,” NHS senior Constantine Gregoire said.
Other students agreed that it is important to stay informed in regards to politics and the decision making process of the government, but also admitted that they do not personally stay up to date with it whether because there is simply not enough time in the day, or because it is of little interest to them.
“I don’t personally follow politics, but I do think that it is important to so that you know how decisions are made in the place that you live in because it has such a huge impact on your daily life,” NHS senior Kate Davin said.
However, staying informed about politics can be accomplished as easily as listening to the news on the way to school in the morning or picking up the daily newspaper.
“It’s important to vote in order to have a say and take a part and let your voice be heard. There are other ways to be involved, but voting is the most obvious, the most accepted, the best known and some people would argue the most legitimate way, and the fairest way for everyone to be involved,” Edwards said, “After all, we can’t have a democracy unless people participate in that democracy.”
With the next presidential election approaching within the next two years, many NHS seniors and juniors will be of age and therefore eligible to cast their vote. The question now becomes, who will actually participate?
Many people, however, choose not to vote simply because they do not think they can, whether it be because they or out of town, or are not registered to do so. But, there is a solution to every problem and here there is no exception. All government teachers in NHS hand out voter registration forms for their students to fill out in preparation for their eighteenth birthday, which are also available at the town hall or the post office. For those who will be away during election day, either on vacation or away at college, there is also an easy solution.
“If you say, ‘Well I can’t vote, I’m not going to be home next fall,’ that’s false. You can get an absentee ballot,” Edwards said.
As the up and coming generation of this country, high school students in particular should make a point to keep themselves informed, and when the time comes, take the necessary and proper steps towards becoming an eligible and active voter.