One’s family might disagree about opinions on food, pop-culture, or even if someone cheated at a board game during family night. But what happens when the conversation shifts into a political lens?
As different generations pass, new values and ideals start to develop. With these new values may come some differences in families on different topics. This election season, those differences are playing out between young people and their families.
How exactly does this play out in BCCHS?
Out of the 75 students surveyed at BCCHS, 82.7% of students plan on voting when they turn 18 and 73.3% of surveyed students said that someone in their family does vote.
Students expressed their views on voting through a written survey. Their answers varied.
Shaniya Pemberton, a senior, wrote, “I somewhat do have different voting preferences than my family, specifically my dad, since he believes that Trump is a good president rather than Kamala. While they are both wrong, there is one obviously more of a danger to the democracy (Trump) than the other. I believe it’s due to the lack of understanding policies,”
“But I can’t be one to talk since I don’t get involved with politics a lot so I sometimes don’t understand or honestly don’t care even though that is bad. I will get better though, trust,” Pemberton wrote.
Maya Buckman, a sophomore, wrote that her family members all have the same outlooks.
“Me and my parents have the same view on voting. We think it is important, especially as black people and as females it is important to vote. People in history have fought for the right to vote and have went through many difficulties along the way,” wrote Buckman.
However, a freshman–who asked to be kept anonymous for reasons of privacy–described their views being different from their families.
“I do believe I have different views on voting than my family because I think that you should take full advantage of any voting opportunities that are offered to you. So I think that you should vote whenever you can. That’s why I plan to vote when I turn 18 because I want my ideas to be a part of any decisions made for the world I’m living in,” the student wrote.
Dakota Martinez – Jenkins, a senior, wrote about how her views differ in some ways from those of her family.
“My family is predominantly liberal and/or Democratic, which I don’t fully resonate with. But I don’t necessarily disagree with most democratic policies, I just don’t support some of the candidates nor do I support the idiocies of the Republican candidates either. Both are failing our country because they cater to extremes and don’t really care for the American people, just pushing their political agenda.”
Martinez-Jenkins sees the polarization of politics as particularly toxic.
“Politics and the people who follow it religiously are so polarizing and forget that there exists nuance in most things and that attacking those with opposing views does not make you right nor better than your opponent, just loud, arrogant, and obnoxious,” Martinez-Jenkins wrote.
Madisson Carrasquillo, a junior, reflected on differences in her family.
“My family is from Puerto Rico and I am the only one who was both in the states so our views are very different causing our views on voting being different,” Carrasquillo wrote.
Where can you get registered as a voter in high school?
- Online
There are youth voter movements where you can register to vote online by filling out a form. However, you can also register to vote on the College Board website.
- Register when getting ID
If you are planning on getting your federal ID anytime soon and are at least 16 years old, on the forms you need to fill out for the DMV will be a section titled “New York State Voter Registration Application.” In that section you will fill out your information and give it to the DMV on the day you get your ID.
- New York State Website
The New York State website has a section in their website where you can pre-register to vote. You will need either your driver license/permit or a non driver ID, your social security number, and zip code.
