Nov. 3 2019 marked the one year away date from the next presidential election. Many seniors will be released into the voting pool this year and able to share their voice.

On National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 24, the PRHS Activists’ Coalition for Tomorrow club held booths in the quad promoting students to vote.

“I think it’s important to vote because it is a person’s duty to contribute to their society by voting for what they believe in. Young voters account for a large part of the voting population, which makes young voters powerful. Every vote counts and even if it doesn’t seem important now, it will in four years” the ACT club founder Cheyanne Holliday said.

In a recent survey of 89 PRHS upperclassmen 36 percent of students didn’t know when the next election is. In the same survey 64 percent didn’t know how to register to vote. Only 25.8 percent were registered to vote.

“Voting is a right that some throughout the world don’t have the opportunity [because] we are founded on freedom not dictators. Voting gives the citizenry a say. Students should know the candidates and or the issues being voted on before they vote so they can make the best educated decision for themselves,” economics teacher Derek Stroud said.

Even though voting is a right for citizens of the US, not every US citizen can or will vote. According to pewresearch.org 56 percent of eligible Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election.

“I think it is extremely important to vote. That being said, we can’t just mindlessly vote. As American citizens we should be educated before we elect leaders who impact our lives. The vote is a right, a right many have fought for. It is important to let our voices be heard. I have been researching the candidates that belong to the party that I will be voting for. I as well tune in to the debates and listen to what each candidate has to say and how it will best benefit the beliefs that I hold to be true” senior Leslie Ramirez said.

The current senior class will be the newest voters. In a government class students learn about politics, and then in the 2020 election they can apply their knowledge.

“I am going to vote in the next election because I think my vote matters and I want to vote for the changes that need to be made. I think it’s very important to vote. Your vote has the possibility to tip the scales in politics you just have to believe that it will. To educate myself I listen to political radio shows and watch current events to fully grasp the political forecast” senior Cassidy Fiel said.