Tuesday is Election Day to determine who will run the country until 2017. The candidates on the Texas ballot will be Democratic candidate President Barack Obama, Republican candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein and Libertarian candidate former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.
“There is a clear cut line on choices between the presidential candidates,” government teacher Tony Carter said. “There is little overlap between the ideas of each candidate.”
Junior Ariel Moncayo said he would vote for Obama because he sticks to what he says.
“I support Obama,” Moncayo said. “Romney is always flip flopping. He doesn’t know where he stands on a lot of topics.”
The current situation in the country is a factor in senior Heath Green’s vote.
“I’d vote Romney,” Green said. “He’s the lesser of the two evils. I’m not sure how good he would be as a president, but he’s got to be better than Obama.”
Being informed about both sides could help seniors of voting age decide which candidate to choose.
“I know it’s controversial, but I would vote for Obama,” senior Martha Dyck said. “I’ve read about both candidates’ policies and the stuff Romney wants to do won’t seem to work because it’s not working in Massachusetts. In my mind, Obama is a better president than Romney could make.”
For Dyck, registering came with the checking of a box.
“When I got my drivers license there was a box asking me if I wanted to vote in the election,” Dyck said. “I checked ‘yes’, and I didn’t have to give any information because it was already there.”
Dyck said she is looking forward to voting.
“I’m excited to vote,” Dyck said. “It’s neat knowing that my vote is part of what’s happening in the world. Plus, it’s my first year being 18, and I already get to vote while others have to wait for four more years to vote for president.”
Seniors who made the age cut are looking forward to voting even though the electoral vote is what actually elects the president.
“It’s kind of cool that I’m at the age that I can start doing this kind of stuff,” senior Jacob Burtch said. “Even though my vote doesn’t really matter, I’m going to do it anyway.”
Senior Joy Dove missed the opportunity by one month.
“It’s not fair that I’m not old enough to vote,” Dove said. “I really wish I could.”
Often students make voting decisions based on family political leanings.
“I’m not old enough to vote,” senior Kaleen Sarli said,” But if I could, I would vote for Mitt Romney because he’s a Republican like I am and my grandparents are.”
Traditionally, Texans have voted Republican in presidential elections for over 30 years. The last Democrat to carry Texas was Jimmy Carter in 1976. In 1972, Texans voted for Republican Richard Nixon, but prior to that voted Democratic going all the way back to 1856.
“If a serial killer ran as the Republican, I’d vote for him,” Green said. “He’s a Republican, and it’s all about the party.”
For students who’s parents don’t stay tuned to the election, finding the stances on issues is something they had to do on their own.
“I look up the information about the election myself,” Dyck said. “I want to make the best possible decision.”
Moncayo also found his own information.
“When I get home I watch the news like a child watches cartoons,” Moncayo said. “Just because I can’t vote doesn’t mean who is chosen as president can’t affect my future.”
Moncayo uses what he finds to inform his parents.
“My parents’ view on the election doesn’t affect mine,” Moncayo said. “They don’t care much for it. I actually tell them what’s going on. They agree and support my side.”
Green also stays tuned in the media for information.
“I’m pretty informed about the presidential debates,” Green said. “I watch the debates.”
Students also picked up information on the candidates from their teachers.
“I know that there are other candidates,” Dove said. “I heard about them from Coach Swinnea. I’d still just vote for the more important parties.”
Burtch only knew about Republican and Democratic candidates.
“I haven’t heard about any other candidates,” Burtch said. “Out of all the candidates I would vote for the lesser evil. My vote isn’t going to matter, but I want to feel the satisfaction of the better candidate.”
The televised presidential debates only included the two popular parties, but Green Party candidate Jill Stein did try to join the New York debate at Hofstra University. She and her running mate were arrested. The next week she filed suit against the Commission on Presidential Debates claiming it “deprived her of her constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and free speech, as well as her statutorily protected civil rights”.
“It’s not fair that Stein wasn’t allowed to enter the debate,” Dyck said. “All the nominees should have a chance to make their ideas and goals public. I haven’t been lucky enough to find stuff on the other candidates running.”
A new presidential term means change for America, or at least that’s what Moncayo hopes for.
“I would vote Democrat,” Moncayo said. “They stand for the middle and working class families. The Republicans believe in not raising taxes for the wealthy.”
Carter says taxes are a big issue in the election.
“Taxes seem to be the hang up at the moment,” Carter said. “Should everyone get a tax cut or just the middle class?”
Dove and Burtch hope that if Romney wins, he will repeal Obamacare.
“I hate giving people money to buy beer and cigarettes,” Burtch said. “They should get off their lazy butts and go work. It’s how I was raised–to go out and work.”
Sarli agrees that people should earn their money.
“I want the welfare system to be fixed,” Sarli said. “I hate how people use the system. People should work for their money.”
If Obamacare is repealed, however, it would have a direct affect on high school-aged students who under Obama’s plan are covered by their parents’ insurance until they are 26. Romney has promised to repeal Obamacare when and if he is elected.
Another issue in the election addresses immigration laws.
“I want the president to change immigration reform,” Moncayo said. “Romney believes in self deportation and that we’ll be better off without these immigrants. People who live here should get their papers; they moved here for a reason.”
Even if students aren’t old enough to actually vote on Tuesday, student council will host a mock election that day in the library.