Munster High School | 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
In today’s age, our rising generation is more informed on issues that ultimately will impact them today, and in their future. These issues especially include the world’s environment and American education systems. However, 16 year olds are not fully matured, and some may not take voting with seriousness, but then again, 18 year olds are not completely, either. I think today’s kids are more active in government than before, and they would like to vote for people to represent them accordingly.
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The majority of voters are elderly people so lowering the age to allow younger voters could lead to more evenly spread voter statistics.
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The Tide-Pod generation cannot be allowed to vote at 16.
Do you think it is a good idea to lower the voting age to 16?
Some people at a young age don’t fully understand what is going on and just will base their voting answer to the rumors and propaganda they’ve heard.
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Teenagers are more heavily biased than adults are. Teenagers are more likely to be biased than actually listen to other candidates or their points. Adults (most of the time) have a more likely idea of what they believe and who they are.
Seniors vote for the first time in their lives, students discuss their opinions of giving 16 year olds the right to vote in state elections Popular Vote
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Story by Mercedez Williams Section Editor
T
here’s a first time for everything, and now it is the first time many seniors can vote in elections.
“I feel like it is my civic duty, it’s a privilege we all have.” Vince Ivetich, senior, said, “It’s given to us for a reason. The government should operate on voting, and it will operate when everyone votes. Everyone is doing their job as a citizen to have their input be heard in our government system.” Along with new elections comes new proposals, such as having 16-and 17-year-olds being able to vote in all elections. Like most things, there are the advantages and disadvantages to having a younger audience voting. “I do not agree with that because I just feel like even though 16-years-old is relatively older, I don’t feel like it’s old enough to make a political decision,” Vince said. “I feel like they don’t necessarily have set political views yet, they haven’t even taken government classes, they haven’t even gone through US History classes, 16-year-olds don’t really have an understanding how voting goes and the entire system. At that young of an age, they haven’t found themselves politically yet, it may not be their views but their parents’ views are reflected. It would be better to keep the age at 18 just because they need more time to understand what they really want.”
On the other side of the spectrum, Connor Meyer, senior believes that lawmakers should
consider it with the lack of youth representation in voting. “No (voting doesn’t reflect the beliefs of younger people), it doesn’t and it never does just based on political science,” Connor said. “The demographic that votes the most is the very old people but what with I have seen with the recent surge of gun control protest or things of the sort, we have seen an increase of activism in our demographic, so even if we cannot go to the ballot box, we have seen our voices, as young people, be heard.” With student interest peaking for politics, some
Which of the following statements do you agree with?
16.6% 26%
57.4%
Voting in local elections is more impactful Voting in national elections is more impactful Both have equal impact
No
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No Yes % 6 .4% 30. 69
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UPCOMING Yearbook Pickup | Tomorrow, bring ID Senior Issue | Friday, bring $1
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Crier
INSIDE LOOK Mrs. Daugherty position change | page 2 Food delivery changes| page 4 Mr. Marsh resignation | page 6
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Yes
issue 12 53 | april may 20, 16, 2018 11 | volume 52
*All quotes are anonymous responses from survey
Do you believe that elections truly show the general consensus of all of Indiana?
40.7% Yes
59.3% No
13%
of students said they would be voting in the May 8 primary While 25.6% of them are 18
truly think that 16-and 17-year olds voting as a good thing, due to activism and protest. “I think it just shows the passion of the younger generation really coming and people,” Hansa Vavilala, senior, said, “A lot of people are starting to fight for things depending the side they are on. I think for a really long time people thought teenagers and young people didn’t care about politics, but now they are fighting for what they believe in”
Nevertheless, some think that taking a government class should be required to be able to vote in elections, not to persuade a political
view but to inform more students. “I definitely think we should (we should begin teaching civic education at a young age),” Vince said “because we are getting to the point that people have political apathy, where they don’t care about who wins elections anymore. It is becoming too much of a problem in America today. People are just not voting, many are registered to vote but don’t show up because there’s long voting lines or any other reason. Some feel like their vote doesn’t count. I don’t think these people understand the gravity of what they’re doing by either voting or not voting.” With voting being an integral part of democracy and representation for those who participate, urging young people to vote is important to see the change they want. “The only thing people have is voting in terms of your representation.” Connor said, “So if you wanted change then vote, basically if you don’t vote don’t complain because we can want to change government, you can say that there are things there are problems that exist in today’s world, but like at the end of the day, if you really want to make a difference if you really want to contribute to the polity whether you’re a Democrat or Republican or an independent, then you have to vote. You have to do something to make your government better in your eyes.”
Q & A with the 2018-2019 Student Body President Shreyas Iyer and Vice President Maddy Foreit, juniors
Q. How does it feel now that you
have been elected? A. “It feels great. I feel very accomplished. When I first found out I was elected I was excited and very eager to start.” —Shreyas Iyer
Q. What do you plan on doing during A.
your term? “In general, I just want to encourage more student involvement as to what goes on in Student Government because oftentimes, decisions are just made by the members of student government and the administration and student body is not fully aware of what is going on, so I think promoting transparency will be helpful.” —Shreyas Iyer
A. “We would like to implement plastic recycling and promote school spirit. Ideally, we will have the courtyard open for lunches” -Maddy Foreit
76.1% think their vote can affect others in their age group
source: Crier survey of 493 students on GoogleForms from May 1-9