Voting is a privilege and the duty of all American citizens, but some see voting as a laborious and meaningless hassle. For two Thousand Oaks High School Lancers, their views align with the former. Despite their differences in age and experience, senior Davis Hann and sophomore Arianna Perri both recognize the importance of voting for the future of the country.
“I’m very excited,” Hann said. “I registered a couple of years ago.”
Although she can’t vote yet, Perri recognizes the effect this election could have on her, her peers, and the country as a whole.
“The country is in a vulnerable place right now,” Perri said. “Whoever gets elected as president is going to have a lot of responsibilities, so we should all, as a collective, elect someone who will better our nation.”
Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the election in July and Vice President Kamala Harris became the new Democratic candidate, much controversy and discord has been stirred up.
“The rhetoric is really high,” Hann said. “We’re all Americans, and so I think we should focus on moving our country forward instead of violence.”
When making a decision about who to vote for, Perri believes in the importance of voters looking at the morals, beliefs, and values of each candidate.
“But more importantly,” Perri said, “What they plan to do for the country, how their election will affect you, and how their election will affect the world.”
Perri urges voters to analyze the facts and form their own firm opinion before filling out their ballots. With so many ideas and misinformation being pushed onto voters from both sides, it’s easy for uncertainty to affect one’s decision in this election.
“Don’t just look at one [source], as my history teacher Mr. Corbett would say,” Perri said. “Look at at least five different points of view so you can get a better opinion of what the truth is; there’s so much divisiveness and manipulation through these articles.”
Likewise, Hann expresses the importance of researching before voting and considering the effects of your decision. One vote can make a difference.
“It is important to vote for your interest but it’s also important to vote for the interest of the people in your community,” Hann said. “Getting out there and voting is an important step, and is the most American thing you can do.”
Hann and Perri both encourage their peers and all eligible citizens, to cast their vote for the greater good of the country. The results of this election will affect the country for generations to come and, as always, every vote matters.