The 2024 election is coming up and there are many hot button issues to talk about. Climate change, abortion, debt relief, immigration, healthcare, and much more are on the minds of young voters. As a large portion of the student body are turning 18 or have already turned 18, this will be the first election that Cleveland students will be voting in. This newly-earned right for the youth of America comes with its challenges, considerations, and lessons, and Cleveland students and teachers have a lot to say.
According to CIRCLE (Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), following the 2022 midterm elections, an estimated 27% of young voters (ages 18-29) cast a ballot. In Oregon, this number was 35.5%. Slightly better, but still not great. So why should you vote? You’re busy, it’s a seemingly complicated and arduous process, and none of the candidates truly align with your beliefs and values. Although this may be the case, voting is a right and a privilege that American citizens are very fortunate to have, and your vote can help elect leaders whose decisions will impact your life in the future.
“I feel strongly about exercising the right to vote because it is a privilege,” says junior Shea Appleyard. “It’s really important to voice our opinions and I think every vote truly matters even if it doesn’t seem like it in the scheme of things.”
If you’re not sure about what issues you should research in anticipation of the election, here are some of the issues that the Cleveland student body are interested in.
“Especially now as I’m transitioning to a senior in high school, I’m really interested in debt relief and the discussions around education and how we’re accommodating financial aid,” says Appleyard.
For students nearing the end of high school, education is a topic that will have a massive impact on their future. As society is on the brink of many changes, young voters will be facing many new challenges and issues. Artificial intelligence, decisions around standardized testing, and debt relief are all topics that will be in discussion.
“The homelessness crisis is pretty important to me, so I’m looking for candidates who support fixing that,” says junior Angus Grant.
Especially living in Portland, many Cleveland students are advocating for this, after seeing the homelessness crisis unfold in their city.
“Climate change, women’s reproductive rights, fair pay, ending wealth inequality, LGBTQ+ and minority rights, gun control…the list goes on and on. But mostly (and sadly), I am voting to keep nuclear war, a complete disintegration of human rights, far-right propaganda and dictatorship and everything else Trump will bring, OUT of the U.S.,” says senior Iris Khatra.
This is a very common sentiment, it seems. As our democracy has drastically shifted into a polarized, two-party system, many people are unsatisfied with the candidates for the 2024 presidential election. The Pew Research Center defined political polarization as “the vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats.” This has caused candidates with extreme perspectives to run and people use their vote out of fear of the extremist ideals that the opposing candidate will bring. Rather than voting for a candidate who supports their values, many Cleveland voters will be voting against the other candidates.
While the presidential election is the biggest topic of conversation right now, local elections also hold great importance when it comes to issues that directly affect us. If the mayor serves as the “CEO” of the city, city council members are like the board of directors of the city. Changes to city law are governed by city council, primarily municipal code and ordinances. Currently, Portland is operating with a five member city council, but this will change to a 12 member board with the 2024 election. If you’re sick of driving through potholes in your neighborhood, that’s a great incentive to do your research and vote for city council candidates who are committed to improving roads.
Unsure about where to start? That’s ok! Thankfully, in Oregon, it’s fairly easy to register to vote. The easiest way to register is online. If you just google “online voter registration Oregon” an Oregon.gov link should come up and the process is very straightforward from there. Additionally, if you have an Oregon driver’s license, chances are, you might already be registered to vote. It’s a state policy in Oregon that when you first get your driver’s license, they send you something called a “Motor Voter card.” You fill this out and send it back to the return address and then you’re registered to vote. If you remember doing this, you could already be registered, but it’s best to check with parents/guardians, or you can check your voter status on Oregon.gov as well!
While the thought of being able to vote in this upcoming election is understandably intimidating, it is incredibly important to exercise such an enormous privilege. As the future generations progress into adulthood, it is more important than ever to uphold democracy. Incorporating as many voices from our generation as possible is necessary as more current and relevant issues develop in our society. Government and anthropology teacher Nathan Pier said it best: “Voting is the rent you pay to live in the United States.”