As a high school student, voting can be confusing no matter the age. It’s confusing and isn’t taught at CKHS.  I have scoured the internet in order to create the perfect How To guide to voting.

Ask yourself this, do you know how to vote, or how to register to vote? Ask your friends the same. Students under the age of 18 are more likely to not know how to register to vote, but understand the voting process while students of the age of 18 or older know how to register to vote and how to vote.

When I asked twelve students in the library, five out of those twelve could not explain how to register to vote nor could they explain the voting process itself.

Washington offers online voter registration. You can register to vote by mail in Washington by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer.

Miamidade.gov states that there are three ways to vote, “Early Voting offers a range of days to vote prior to Election Day. To vote by mail, request a ballot in advance and vote from home. To vote on Election Day, visit your assigned polling place on Election Day and cast your vote.”

When I asked these same twelve people if they knew what a ballot looks like and explain what the election day process looks like, two out of the twelve people were unable to describe it.

USA.gov explains that the election day process for a President “occurs every four years on Election Day, held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. During the general election, Americans go to their polling place to cast their vote for President.”

When you get a ballot, it will look slightly like a multiple choice question test.  In the top left, it will state the name of the ballot, the date, and your location. The first box will give you instructions on how to fill out the ballot. The rest of the remaining boxes will have the names of the upcoming candidates, what they are running for, and what party they identify with.

This all leads to the question “why does voting matter.” There is a variety of reasons, here is what some of the students of CKHS think. “It’s your government, it’s your government officials–you should care for the people,” says Kate Zabinski, Sophomore. “If you don’t vote you have no cause to complain about the people in office,” says Mollie Mckee, Sophomore. “Voting matters because if you don’t [vote] you end up with Trump,” says Avery Jacques, Junior.

The majority of high school students are unable to vote due to their age. To be able to vote, you must be of the age of 18 or old, that immediately rules out the majority of the school. How can these students get involved without voting? Kate Zabinski says, “Go to rallies, write pieces, talk to representatives [and] educate yourself.”

There are many rallies you can attend throughout the year in order to get your voice heard. For example, on October 27, 2018, a rally in Spokane focused on the issues important to Eastern Washington voters, including gender, educational, economic, and environmental justice and equity will be held. “Followed by a March with your fellow voters to show that THIS is what Democracy looks like!” The organizer, Indivisiblespokane, will be holding this event on Saturday, October 27th from 11 AM to 1 PM at BA Clark Park 50 W Garland Ave, Spokane, Washington 992015. To contact your representatives, go to the representative’s official website and all their contact information should be there.

Voting can be difficult,  but hopefully this article made it a little easier for all you Seniors at CKHS. For the rest of you students, get out and educate yourself. Voice your opinion. Your voice matters just as much as a voter’s does. Write letters to your representatives, go to rallies, write pieces, make your voice heard!