This November 3, Americans all over the country and the world will cast their votes in the 2020 presidential election. This pivotal event will turn the tide of modern American history. Consequently, more than ever, voting is a necessary civil duty for US citizens. Due to the importance of this election, first-time voters are eager to finally cast their ballot. Many Mercersburg students have just reached the age of 18, and are among these Americans voting for their very first time. Kate Prentiss ‘21 said, “It feels incredibly exciting… I know how important this election is and how big of an impact young people can have if we show up to the polls, so I was anticipating turning 18 for that reason.” Another first-time voter, Lucy Bowman ‘21 added, “I’m glad I can somewhat have a say in the future of our country now.
But what does the voting process look like for students on campus? As a boarding school, and because of COVID-19, students at Mercersburg that are eligible to vote must register for a mail-in or absentee ballot. A mail-in ballot is an alternative to in-person voting and has become an extremely popular option for this year’s election. There are many reasons why people opt for this method of voting, including preferring not to vote in-person, having a disability that prevents you from going to the polls in-person, or just not being able to make it to the polls on election day. This year, however, the main reason why people decided to request an absentee ballot was pandemic-related. Before requesting a mail-in ballot, you must register to vote.
Mercersburg’s first-time voters had a range of experiences registering to vote remotely.. Rose Potter ‘21 of Virginia said, “It was actually pretty complicated. I thought I registered to vote over the summer but apparently the DMV didn’t transfer my license information correctly so I wasn’t actually registered. I tried to re-register the last day you were able to in Virginia however, the entire Virginia voter registration was down. However, the state of Virginia extended this deadline two days so I was able to get registered.” In contrast, Prentiss ‘21 of Massachusetts said, “The process to register to vote was very simple. I don’t remember there being any issues and it only took a few minutes.” One possible reason for the discrepancy in experiences is that the registration process is determined by the state. Because of Mercersburg’s diverse student population, there was bound to be variation in the registration and voting experiences.
Voting is an essential American right, one that young citizens anticipate gaining along with the privileges of adulthood. This is a huge milestone for young adults, especially for Mercersburg students. President of the Conservative Club, Potter ‘21 said, “I do believe it [voting] is important. However, I am a strong believer in a person’s right to not vote if they so choose.” Although she cannot vote herself, President of the High School Democrats of America Club, Carina Cole ‘22 said, “Voting is incredibly important because it is one of the best ways for the average citizen of the United States to have an influence on the future of our country. It is a great way to get involved with politics and create an impact. This year is incredibly important because it will be a very close election. Everyone who is able should vote because the future of our country depends on it.”
We don’t know what this coming election will bring for the United States. But what we do know is how important it is to get out there and make voices, specifically young ones, heard everywhere. Whether it’s through voting or being politically active, you can influence the outcome of this historical event.