As November 5 draws closer and closer, select Lakesiders are gearing up to vote in their very first election. Although not a majority of the school population, seniors eligible to vote still make up a sizable portion of the graduating class, slightly more than a quarter of the grade.
This group of voters will participate in what is to be one of the most divisive presidential elections in recent history, with either side of the ballot trying to appeal to the youth vote—with issues like immigration, the economy, and abortion on the line, swaying the emerging demographic to either candidate’s side could make or break the election. As such, Lakesiders in this election must decide whether to select a candidate for the first time or not to vote at all.
High school seniors have been described as one of the most influential demographics in this election — with over 8 million new voters eligible, as well as the impact of the youth turnout during the 2020 election, presidential candidates are aware of how important this group is.
Both former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign have made efforts to target young voters, from Harris’s campaign inviting content creators to the Democratic National Convention to Trump creating a TikTok account that has gained over 11 million followers.
Both candidates have also attempted to capitalize on viral trends in their efforts to sway young voters, with Harris jumping on the bandwagon “Brat Summer” and Trump making appearances with Twitch streamer Adin Ross, and on podcasts popular with the young male demographic, such as Logan Paul’s Impaulsive and Theo Von’s This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von.
Voting seniors surely feel this ongoing pressure, with one such senior describing the election as “a little bit exciting, but also stressful, since it’s such a big, country-changing event, and now [I’m] participating in it.”
However, this doesn’t stop prospective voters from thoroughly engaging with the election — 90% of the polled class are already registered to vote, and over half are planning to vote in both the local and presidential elections.
But registration is simply the first step of the voting process: For many Lakesiders, the real challenge lies in deciding which issues matter to them as they prepare to select a candidate.
Kale B. ’25 is one voter this election who is selecting a candidate — he describes himself by using the phrase “socially liberal, yet fiscally conservative,” identifying more with left-leaning policies on identity issues but preferring a more conservative approach to policies surrounding the economy.
Such a stance is not uncommon among other voters at school, with those polled similarly marking social issues as important to them, yet also identifying closely with more Republican policies surrounding the economy.
Still, a sizable portion of the class also identify as liberals, ranking policies like abortion and gun violence as most important to them. Either way, most potential Lakeside voters seem to be voting for current VP Kamala Harris. These liberal-leaning students are drawn to Harris not only for her politics but also her commitment to social justice and promises to bolster certain social issues like abortion and gun control, which to many Lakeside voters are an important part of their political identity.
However, while Lakesiders may be passionate about their issues and candidates, the road to voting isn’t always easy. According to one senior, their voting troubles were a combination of figuring out how to sign up and making the time to do so. Kale agrees. “Turning 18, at the same time you’re a senior in high school is a strange experience, because you have to deal with so much at once,” he explains.
Other seniors report varying experiences in their registration but agree that registering to vote was harder than they thought.
On the other hand, some Lakesiders found it difficult to believe their vote mattered. Washington isn’t considered a ‘swing state’ and has been blue for over three decades, meaning votes from Washington youth, like those of Lakesiders, will be part of the state’s 12 electoral votes assumed to be going to the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Moreover, voters reportedly feel dismayed over the lack of choice they feel this election brought—what with the unconventionally selected Democratic candidate, scattered campaigns for an Independent nominee, and the virtually unchallenged Republican nomination, some have argued that they would have preferred a “more competitive” election.
Some voters say they wished both candidates did more to appeal to their voters rather than relying on the polarization of the two-party system and the handful of moderates in the center to sway the electoral votes in each respective favor.
Seniors voting in this election face their ongoing selection with eagerness and trepidation. As November 5 steadily approaches, these Lakesiders will have to make a choice to either participate in their constitutional prerogative or abstain from voting.
To some Lakeside voters, this is their civic duty, and a highlight of their nascent adulthood. To others, it’s simply another task to complete during senior year. Either way, this doesn’t seem to be many’s dream election: Kale agrees, stating that he’s “Excited, but disappointed that this is my first election— I would have loved to vote like I had an actual choice.”
If you will be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election and are not yet registered, register online or by mail by October 28, or head in person to register by election day. Visit votewa.gov to check your registration, learn where and how to vote, or register for the first time.
