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VOTE vote VOTE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Our second edition: why your vote is critical to our democracy

EDITION II

NOV 7, 2022

CONTENTS november 2022

Student Insight Students provide their perspective on the importance of voting.

The Fight for Congress Two candidates up for District 49 Representative debate on pressing issues.

The President's Visit U.S. President Joe Biden visits MiraCosta College to inspire Californians to vote.

table of contents

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Letter From the Editors

PHOTO BY KENNA BURCH

Dear Fleeters, Welcome to our second edition! This one is all about voting and how YOU can impact our community. Too often, people give up their only way to truly impact the government: their right to vote. Through this edition, we hope to inspire our readers to take initiative and show up at the polls. No matter what your political beliefs may be, it's essential to use your voice. We did our best to be objective when creating this publication; inside you'll find reports of local students' experiences in the political scene and informative pieces on tangible ways that the youth can leave their mark on our government, regardless of age. After reading this magazine, our goal is that you leave with a better understanding of voting and the importance of your voice. Enjoy reading! Sincerely, Nadia Razzaq and Erin Yoon from the editors

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VOTER JAM 2022 Nadia Razzaq, Co-Founder and Head Editor Elections are more than just filling in bubbles and researching candidates; it can also mean rock & roll and epic hair everywhere. Voter Jam is an annual event that brings people of all ages together to get preregistered to vote and enjoy live music. Bands from around San Diego came together

on Oct. 16 at Pine Avenue Community Park in Carlsbad to Get Out the Vote (GOTV). Dead Rosetta, Migraine, Messy Hera, and Landon Miller performed at the event. Dead Rosetta singer Noah Miles left the audience with one final comment after the band's performance:

"We don't really care who you vote for just get out there and vote!" - Noah Miles, Dead Rosetta voter jam

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HOW TO VOTE Emily Griffith, Writer and Editor

REGISTER TO VOTE There are two ways you can register! 1. Complete the online voter registration 2. Fill out a paper voter registration application a. Get them from a local DMV, post office, library, government office, or put in a request for one at your local county elections office. DROP-OFF BALLOT Deadline to return completed mail ballot: "By mail: Postmarked by Tuesday, Nov 08, 2022 and received by Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 In person: Tuesday, Nov 08, 2022 close of polls PT" MAIL-IN BALLOT Same deadlines as the drop-off ballots!

IN-PERSON VOTING Will take place on election day! Find where to go locally at voterguide.rockthevote.org

FAQs What is "early in-person voting?" When you can't make it to a voting location on the actual day, you can go to certain voting locations to vote early. What is a "drop-off ballot?" You can fill out your ballot at home and drop it off at a designated location. What is a "mail-in ballot?" Fill out your ballot at home and return by mail (no postage required). What is "in-person voting?" You can visit a designated voting location nearby to vote. how to vote

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THE FIGHT FOR THE 49TH DISTRICT Nadia Razzaq, Co-Founder and Head Editor

On Oct. 11, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin and Republican challenger Brian Maryott faced off at the Candidate Forum. At MiraCosta College, locals filled the debate room—as well as two overflow classrooms that streamed the forum—in hopes of learning more about both of the candidates and their priorities. FLEET recorded two responses from both candidates on the issues most relevant to our generation.

congressional debate

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What is your stance on the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe versus Wade? Levin: "I thought it was a horrifying decision. I believe that this decision should only be between a woman and her doctor... I think we need to codify Roe versus Wade." Maryott: "When Roe v. Wade was overturned, it was an incredible, emotional time for our country. It is a right that women got used to and it was remarkable to see the reaction in the country. Understandable... I would never vote for a national ban or abortion laws in Congress."

What policies are you committed to in order to keep students safe from gun violence in schools? Levin: "The reality is that I support the amendment but I am no friend of the NRA... I support common-sense background checks. I support doing all we can to come together in a bipartisan way like we did for the first time in over 30 years with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act." Maryott: "We have to look at the issue in a far more holistic way... We've got to get resources on the ground. We've got to get common sense on the ground"

congressional debate

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WHY VOTE? "Utilizing our constitutional right to vote is the only way you can create meaningful change in our country. Nothing is as powerful as the ballot box." -Nick Cepek, High School Senior

student insight

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"Voting is very important because you are electing leaders to support our ideas and beliefs. Living in a democracy, it's your right to vote on leaders who will represent your interests!" Sophie Han, High School Senior

"Voting is crucial especially right now with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Submitting your ballot is the only way to create change and ensure women's equality and rights are respected and protected." Emily Ward, High School Senior

"Voting is important because it is part of fulfilling the social contract." Alisa Sumwalt, High School Senior

student insight

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"Voting is a vital act. For all voters, it is how we as Americans can make a change." Davian Rangel, High School Senior

"It's important to vote because you're making a difference, even if it doesn't feel like it. It helps guide our representatives to make decisions that we as a democracy want." Liza Turovets, High School Senior

"Voting isn't only essential, but it can demonstrate who you are as a person and the ideas you stand for." Nate Ogus, High School Senior

student insight

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"Now more than ever do Americans, especially young Americans, need to use their right to vote. Through voting, you express yourself and your beliefs, and through your minuscule action you really do bring change." Kyle Gatti, High School Senior

"The importance of voting simply comes down to fulfilling one of your duties as an American citizen. To evolve and advance the political conversation in our country, it takes as many people expressing their opinions as possible, and there is no more streamlined way to do so than to vote. It stands as the largest check we, the American people, have over our government." Ayden McDaniel, High School Senior table of contents

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JOE BIDEN VISITS SAN DIEGO Nadia Razzaq, Co-Founder and Head Editor

On Nov. 3, President Joe Biden visited MiraCosta College to advocate for the re-election of incumbent Rep. Mike Levin. Biden encourages all Americans to join him in voting in the midterm elections and describes what the country represents in one word: "possibilities." president's visit

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The president spoke to the progress Levin has made during his time in Congress, mentioning his role in the infrastructure project to develop the railroad tracks between San Diego and Los Angeles as well as his role in reducing inflation by voting in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act. Moreover, President Biden praised the power of voting. Students who attended the event were especially inspired by the presidential visit. "I thought it was a really exciting event just being able to see a sitting president in our hometown," high school senior Nate Watts said. "I think it also is a pretty important reflection of the importance of getting out to vote. The races this year are super close and our generation will be the one to make a difference in who ends up winning." High school senior Annabella Swartz found the event to be eye-opening, granting her a new perspective of Biden beyond television screens and news stories. "I think it was important to go out and see [Biden] in real life where the media can't edit what you're seeing and hearing," Swartz expressed. "It was cool to see him unedited and as a person since the media can warp what was said."

Biden concluded the event with one final reminder to vote and recognized the impact that young voters, ages 18 to 30, can make especially.

“They’re the best educated, they’re the most informed – not a joke – they’re the most generous and they’re the most engaged and I’m counting on them showing up and voting.” president's visit

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Hillary Clinton is Working to GOTV Nadia Razzaq, Co-Founder and Head Editor Former U.S. Secretary of State and Democratic Candidate in the 2016 Presidential Election Hillary Clinton has taken it upon herself to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) with democratic candidates like incumbent District 49 Rep. Mike Levin. In a zoom meeting for Levin, Clinton spoke to the importance of our youth becoming politically active in the midterms. "It'll take less than five minutes and think about what is at stake besides our personal freedoms, our personal rights, our personal values, the kind of future we want from climate change to abortion to gun violence," Clinton said. "Whatever your issue is, just open the ballot on the kitchen counter and send it in." Clinton has gone on to speak at events for candidates like Gov. Kathy Hochul at Barnard College alongside Vice President Kamala Harris. FLEET Magazine Co-Founder and Editor Nadia Razzaq was able to speak with Secretary Clinton at the event and asked her what she saw herself doing next and if she had any plans for the 2024 elections. "Not for me," she confessed.

"For democracy, yes, I'm going to be on the front lines." hillary clinton: GOTV

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MRS. FISHER'S VOTING GUIDE Erin Yoon, Co-Founder and Head Editor Charity Fisher is an AP Government & Politics, AP European History, AP United States History, and AP World History teacher with credentials to back up her teaching skills; in the past, she worked on Capitol Hill for two different Congressmen. She has also worked for the AP College Board as an AP Reader in World History and Government & Politics. After teaching for over 16 years, she has been well-educated in student voting habits. According to Fisher, there are multiple ways for students to get politically involved. Q: If you're not eligible to vote, how can you become politically active? A: "The first thing is that you can often volunteer on a campaign even though you’re not 18... Those interns do anything; from [making] phone calls, to [organizing] things at the office, to [attending] events, and [helping] set up events... Another way that you can get involved is to either attend the current clubs that exist on campus for political activism, or to create a club as well. Other ways that you can become politically active in a small way is to spend this time having conversations at home with your parents or other adults about current event topics, asking them their opinion and their perspective, challenging yourself to see if you can come up with reasons for both sides, all of those things are going to sort of feed your understanding of politics so that when you’re able to vote, you’re voting as an educated person." All of these are options that students under 18 can take; for those over 18, their main method of taking political action is to actually vote! However, there is still much for them to do before they go to the polls. Q: How can people make an educated decision on who to vote for if they don't know anything about the candidates? A: "Make sure that you do a little bit of your homework because... candidates don’t fall all into one category. For example, with our upcoming school board election... you might like their stance on their support for certain groups of people and you might like that idea, but you might not like their stance on something called school vouchers—whether you’re pro or con—so it’s important to kind of get a full picture of that candidate... to make sure that you’re putting your vote behind someone you actually want." To get informed, Fisher endorses the State of California's Voter Information Guide as an impartial analysis of each candidate up for election. If this resource is insufficient, Fisher encourages learning about one's political party's beliefs. Q: What else can people do to get educated about candidates? A: "Reach out to [your political party] on their website and see who they’re endorsing and what side they’re picking. For example, if you are a Democrat, go to the San Diego Democrat’s website... and they call it a San Diego Democrat’s Guide... that will help you to kind of figure out where you stand on the issues."

fisher on voting

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Even after getting informed and deciding on how to vote, it's difficult to see how only one person's vote still holds power with a population of almost 40 million. Sentiments such as these lead to poor voter turnouts, such as the percentage for the statewide primary election in 2022, which detailed a 33.2% voter turnout (California Secretary of State). Fisher emphasizes the opposite—student votes actually have a significant impact on election results. Q: Why are students important in the upcoming elections? A: "It’s been exciting that over my career, I’m seeing more and more young people become politically active, and seeing them have an excitement for certain candidates and [getting] involved in politics. I also know that the candidates are starting to put in policies in their platform that... reflect that they’re listening to young people. In particular, the student debt issue has come up, immigration has come up, recently pardons regarding marijuana came up, those are all issues that young people are talking about, and so young people... do matter in the upcoming election." Broader than just youth voting, it's essential that every American acknowledges the power that the ability to vote holds, especially the importance of their own. Q: What is the importance of voting and does everyone's vote really matter? A: "Yeah, so every vote does matter. Some of these elections come down to very very small margins, and so if you don’t cast your vote, somebody else does, and they have more power than you do in the decision. So casting your vote first is a civic responsibility, it’s something that we take on when we choose to be a part of this society. So it’s a responsibility that we have in a democracy. Second, your vote matters, it could come down to the wire, and [your vote] could sway it one way or another. When people think that their vote doesn’t matter, they are giving up their power. They’re giving up their say, and I think that sometimes we see this and people go, ‘oh I think this person’s going to win so I’m not going to vote'. Well, then you find out that that’s not the result. We saw this a little bit in 2016, and I think we saw it a little bit in 2020 as well." As a closing remark, Fisher ended on a note about the overall urgency that people use their right to vote. Q: Can you sum up why it's important to vote in general? A: "Voting is power and we have a responsibility to vote. There are a lot of people who have given up a tremendous amount for us to be able to vote, whether it’s the suffragettes—who went through hunger strikes, marches, who fought for the women’s right to vote—or it’s people of color who have been marginalized and disenfranchised historically, and have suffered physical abuse and violence in order to vote. We have a responsibility to honor that, and our veterans who have fought for our ability to be free, to have that freedom to vote. So we have a responsibility to them, and we have a responsibility to ourselves, and our communities. We also have to remember that voting is a way to care for those that are unable to care for themselves. We have the ability to represent people, people who need us the most, and to help make the best policies for our future."

References https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/05-historical-voter-reg-primary.pdf

fisher on voting

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AN ARTIST'S TAKE: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

artist's take

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"I'm not voting because I think sharks should just eat fish"

ALESSANDRA KAHATT-AGUILAR STUDENT ARTIST artist's take

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I voted with ample consideration!

Which one?

DIANA SALAZAR STUDENT ARTIST artist's take

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At least I was aware we had an assignment!

Oh yeah well you didn't wear pink on Wednesday!

DIANA SALAZAR STUDENT ARTIST artist's take

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We finally made it!

on second thought...

DIANA SALAZAR STUDENT ARTIST artist's take

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ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 8

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! election day

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