By: Emma Helmick 

Election day is right around the corner. 

The 2024 election will take place Nov. 5 all around the country. The polls people will attend are based upon their address.  

“Young or old, if you’re a citizen, your voice needs to be heard,” Law and Economics teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “That’s the point of democracy; that we all have a voice.”  

The presidential nominees are Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Harris will be running alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Trump is joined by Senator JD Vance. 

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A poster of an electoral map with results from 2020 that hangs in Mrs. Simone’s room.

Photo By: Emma Helmick

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The Pennsylvania senator race is between Republican nominee Dave McCormick and Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. 

“We’re not all going to be happy with the end result, but, if we don’t go out and vote and if we don’t exercise that power, we lose that power,” Mrs. Simone said. “It becomes more likely for someone to just be able to take power if we’re not making sure to use ours.” 

The deadline to register to vote both in person and by in-mail ballot was Oct. 21. 

“I have registered to vote this year, I looked into the candidates, and I’ve seen what their policies are and how they plan to address issues, so I do plan to vote this election,” senior Hannah Stillwagon said. 

Young people who are not currently eligible to vote but will be by the election can still register now. 

“News sources aren’t really influencing me because they are usually biased, most of the news and commercial ads are,” senior Brenna Kohl said. “I’m trying to make my decision based on what they say in their own speeches and debates.” 

For the past few months, news channels and commercials have taken over, as well as political texts, calls, emails and social media posts. 

It is easy to get lost in information by relying on that type of media. So it is important to keep up with the candidate’s websites and steer clear from staying loyal to just one news channel. 

“Know what key issues matter to you and then see how the candidates match up,” Simone said. “I’ve literally never found a candidate that believes everything I’ve ever wanted. I look to see what really matters to me and then who matches up best with that.”