With November 5 nearing, more than seventeen million people have already cast their ballots. In two weeks, Hingham High School, along with the rest of the school district, will take the day off for Election Day. Although the majority of the student population is under eighteen, for some eligible seniors, this election is the first time casting a vote. Young voters have the power to decide upcoming elections, however many millennials and members of Gen-z are unaware of the importance of voting. Junior Madi Trezza states, “I can’t vote because I’m 16 now, but I’m excited to be able to vote when I turn 18!”.
New generations of voters hold essential voices in shaping America’s future by offering increasingly diverse perspectives on current issues. As the future leaders of our nation, young people are gaining increasing power and importance in American politics. Junior Sydney Steele explains, “When I was younger, I didn’t pay that much attention to or care much about politics, but now that I’m getting older and I will be able to vote soon, I’ve been getting more interested.”
As election day approaches, according to 2024 election polls, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are essentially tied. This leaves the outcome of the election largely dependent on the seven swing states, also known as battleground states that could “swing” to either Democrat or Republican candidates. Political parties often spend a majority of their time and resources on their campaigns in order to win those states. The current swing states, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina have noticeably close polls leaving the possibility for either candidate to exceed the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win.
Throughout this election, the candidates have presented their stances on some of America’s most critical issues. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s individual perspectives on reproductive rights, climate action, crime prevention, economic growth and other pressing topics reflect their visions for the future of our country and the state of democracy. They’ve shared plans on foreign policy and national security, as well as health care reform, immigration policies, and LGBTQ+ rights. As Election Day approaches, these debates remind citizens of the challenges we face emphasizing the importance of voting to build the future of our country.
