Based on the poll Mission Chronicle conducted, 62.2% of students did not watch the debate and 37.8% did. 69.7% remained neutral. 23.2% identified with the left wing and 7.1% identified with the right wing.
Notably, within the group that identified as neutral, 18.6% supported Trump specifically on school safety issues. These statistics were gathered mid-September, and now, with the election tomorrow, it is possible that the students views have changed as the elections have intensified
Although most of our students aren’t eligible to vote due to age, a 0.4% difference indicated that students would choose not to vote rather than participating. This is disappointing, especially in an election where every eligible vote counts, particularly from young voters where they have the power to influence decisions that shape our future greatly.
One of these decisions (and one of the most talked about in the upcoming election) has to do with reproductive rights. This was one of the least voted priorities for the future president with 24.9% voting for reproductive rights, but arguably one of the most pressing issues we face.
Because of Donald Trump, more than 1 in 3 women of reproductive age in America, lives under an abortion ban.
Something significant is the inconsistency between students’ overall neutral stance in these statistics and the specific support to politicians’ individual policies.
Despite some students identifying as neutral, some expressed strong opinions when it came to school safety, where some even leaned toward Trump’s stance, which I thought was fitting as we are in a high school.
Are the students as well-informed as they can be and where are they getting their information?
To be more informed, students should seek information from credible sources, consider working or volunteering in the political field such as a poll worker, and pre-register to vote for the upcoming elections.
Staying updated with current events and discussing these issues with a diverse range of perspectives and people empowers the youth that will be the future of our country.
