With the 2024 election on the rise many new voters are not sure what steps to take to participate in a successful election.
Donald Trump is the Republican candidate and Kamala Harris is the Democratic candidate.
Many important factors go into being a key member of society and participating in the election; one of them is a registered voter. There are three ways to register: Online, by mail, and in person at your local election office.
According to usa.gov, you can also fill out the “National Mail Voter Registration Form”, then sign the form and send it through the mail. To register you need a valid ID (typically a state ID or a driver’s license)
Debra Rokosny the Advanced Placement Government and Politics teacher as well as the advisor for the Human Rights Club says, “Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. I am hopeful that there will be a large turnout from the electorate for the November election, as there appears to be a great deal of interest in the presidential campaign. My AP Gov class is working on election projects and a few students will be outside the cafeteria during (Oct 7-Oct 11) registering eligible voters for the election,” said Rokosny. With this, her students learn how to properly follow a debate and acquire important information that they can take with them to the polls.
Understanding things like body language, addressing the center (when a candidate would align with moderate voters) and effectiveness in describing policy.
Other things that are good to look out for would be their public speaking voice and how they advertise their campaign to appeal to voters. This helps because then you get to know how the candidate would appeal to the people and how they would connect with the country.
Senior Riley Davis who is an AP Gov student states, “How the president is going to affect the rates of inflation, if it’s going to raise them or lower them or keep it the same depending on the candidate are all important things to keep in mind when voting in the election.”
Another point is, “The economy because that dictates how much money people will potentially spend on a day-to-day basis and the lowering and raising of taxes on certain items”, said senior Brian Collum.
There are a lot of things that are important to focus on when it comes to the election. With this, it can be very easy to become overwhelmed.
However, by focusing on these two steps anyone can decide who the right candidate is for them.
The first one is policy views. Which candidate closely aligns with what you believe? Who plans do you think would be more effective in achieving those goals?
Secondly, how does the candidate show their character in ways that you agree with or disagree with? For example, a candidate spends their time attacking their appointment instead of explaining why they would be right for the role. Which candidate tries to connect with the people and prove that they understand middle-class struggles?
Overall every candidate has pros and cons and while none are perfect, it is still imperative to participate in our democracy by showing your voice at the polls.