Why should I care about politics, when I can’t even vote?
As a student at Haldane, it’s easy to take our education about the government for granted. Across the nation, voter apathy is a large problem, with only 66% of eligible voters showing up to the polls in 2020 (Pew Research Center). Out of 100 sampled Haldane students, however, 95% expressed interest in voting. This high level of interest can, in part, be attributed to our above-average educational experience.
According to Pew Research Center, many Americans outside of our bubble don’t understand how Congress functions, or how the different parts of the government interact with each other. However, New York schools– especially Haldane– work to teach us the internal affairs of our nation’s political system. If we pay attention now, and practice learning about different political platforms, we will grow into a more educated voting population.
This year’s election will change the United States, and we get to watch it unfold in real time instead of learning about it in history books. The issues being discussed in this year’s presidential election directly impact each American, so even if you don’t get to cast your ballot this year, paying attention to the modern political scene is important for considering your future plans. As you figure out which career paths to follow or which colleges to commit to, the outcome of local and presidential elections may affect your decision of which state to live in, how much money you are willing to pay for your degree, and how you want to live your life.
What can I do to make change before I turn 18?
There are opportunities for teenagers to get involved in campaigns, such as phone banking or volunteering at polling centers. You can get involved directly by going to a candidate or New York State’s official website and signing up to volunteer.
You could also do something as simple as having a conversation with a parent or older community member to remind them to vote, ask questions about what it’s like to vote, or share your feelings about the election.
Or, talk to someone younger than you, and be a role model for how to participate in government. If you have a younger sibling, babysit, or do peer mentoring, be prepared to answer questions they have about elections, local and national.
By talking to members of your community, or even to local politicians themselves in elections as small as mayoral positions, you can make a big difference in areas that directly impact you, such as the Fjord Trail or paid parking on Main Street.
Whether you are interested in voting or not, it’s important to educate yourself on the state of our nation. School is a great place to start learning, but there is always more information than what we can cover in an hour-long class period. As an American, it is your job to stay informed on national and local issues by consuming news from reputable sources, alongside paying attention to class lessons on current events
As a generation that lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of AI, and now the 2024 election, future students will read about our experiences in their textbooks. Let’s make sure it’s a good chapter.