STUDENTS AT THE POLLS

Seniors plan to exercise their voting rights in November’s election

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With the November election date coming up soon, people across the nation are deciding who will they vote for. Seniors Taylor Ward and Andrew McKerracher will be voting this year.

State voting requirements include being a resident in the state of Idaho 30 days prior to elections, registration with the county clerk (24 days minimum prior to election), and also being 18 years of age before registration.

McKerracher will be voting for Donald Trump this November.

“ He has the experience to run a large nation and also has several successful multibillion dollar companies, and because Hillary is for all the wrong things…” McKerracher said.

Taylor Ward is less certain about her decision.

“I think a third party might help, but it also might cause a problem by taking away votes from another candidate,” Ward said.

While Sandpoint is a generally conservative area, some students would vote in favor of the democratic party.

“I would vote for Hillary because her views align with mine more than Trump’s,” Senior Laney Search said.

Although there are multiple students who are 18 and voting this year, there are also a couple of students who have strong opinions about the presidential race but are unable to vote due to their age. Shawnee Stevens-Webb, 16, and Will Gonser, 17, are just a few of those students.

Stevens-Webb would vote for Donald Trump if she were given the opportunity.

“I think that he makes some great points, but some of the things he says really makes him look like a bad guy,” Stevens-Webb said. “Clinton shouldn’t even be able to run for president with the whole email thing.”

“Both candidates are capable of bringing greatness to America, but it’s just a matter of how serious and sincere they are about their promises,” Gonser said.

While most students agree with the laws allowing people to vote at 18, some teachers may feel differently for such laws. Kristin Hawkins is a teacher who supports the law.

She believes that students who meet the age requirements should vote, in fact she encourages her students to vote.

“I believe that students taking a government class at the time of elections understand more than adults who have been voting for decades,” Hawkins said.