Millions of people are rushing to cast their ballots for President of the United States. A handful of those are Mason City High School students voting for the first time.
“I personally think it’s a whole new feeling being able to choose who will run our country, and the switch-ups that will happen,” said senior Caden Silvey. “For instance like gas prices. Will they hopefully go down? Will inflation go down as well? I just think of it as a whole new opportunity for our future.”
Seniors who turn 18 by election day, can finally vote for who leads our county, state, and country. The two candidates in the 2024 presidential election are Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Harris, running for the Democratic party, has a main focus centered on an “Opportunity Economy.” This means building up the middle class and making sure “everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed — whether they live in a rural area, small town, or big city,” according to Harris’ campaign website. Harris wants to cut taxes for middle-class citizens, lower prices for everyday needs, and ensure women have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare and reproductive freedoms. Running for the Republican party, Donald Trump plans to rebuild the economy, secure the border by deputizing the National Guard and local police officers, and adopt a Parental Bill of Rights which includes implementing the direct election of school principals by the parents.
Senior Ben Ritzart is waiting until election day to cast his first ballot.
“It feels like I am fulfilling my duty as a citizen,” said Ritzert. Issues that are important to him are “War and safety, economic status of the country, and keeping the U.S. constitutional.” When asked who he is voting for he said he is “voting conservatively.”
According to a Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics poll earlier this year, among the 18-29 year old age bracket, “More than half of young Americans say they will definitely be voting in the Presidential election this fall.”
Now included in this group is senior Aubrey Haag, “It feels weird, it doesn’t feel like I have an impact, it’s also nerve-wracking too,” said Haag.
Haag says she’s mostly scared of the process and is having her parents alongside her during the process. Polls are open from 7am-8pm on election day. Registered voters must show a driver’s license, non-driver’s ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, Tribal ID or Voter ID Card before they vote.
