Lugo students weigh in on who they think the next President of the United States should be
After a poll on the 2020 presidential election was given to the seniors and juniors of Don Lugo, their voices were heard and 72.8% of students voted for Joe Biden. “I think that with this election, we are voting for the candidate that is of lesser evil,” said a senior at Don Lugo High School.
November 3, 2020
The seniors and juniors of Don Lugo were given a poll on the 2020 presidential election, where they were able to voice their opinions on who they believe the next president should be.
After collecting the results of 125 responses, 72.8% of students voted for Joe Biden and 27.2% of students voted for Donald Trump. Out of the 125 responses, 47.2% were seniors, and 51.2% were juniors. The poll was taken from seniors in government and economics classes, and juniors in U.S. history.
After a record voter turnout in this year’s election, Don Lugo social science students were no exception; even if it was just a survey. Their voice and opinions were heard. In fact, the Don Lugo records office has reported that our campus has approximately 51 seniors that are 18 and could have voted in this popular election. According to Tufts Tisch College Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), “Like their slightly older peers, youth ages 18-21 are active and engaged in civic life.”
In 2018, more than 15 million people have turned 18 since the last presidential election. “Some cast ballots in 2018, contributing to the highest youth voter turnout we’ve ever seen in a midterm election,” reported CIRCLE. Research shows that “growing voters” are interested and politically active and believe in the power of youth to create social change, and young voters are reported to have participated in a march or demonstration.
The Tufts survey also reveals that young voters, like our Don Lugo population of seniors, don’t know how to register, where to go to vote, or how to cast a mail-in or absentee ballot. In fact, the study reveals that most young people hear about elections and voting from friends and family. While 62% of young people spoke with friends about the 2020 election, parents and other family combined made up a higher percentage of who young people speaking to about the beginnings of the election process and this popular election altogether.
Some Don Lugo students expressed the belief that choosing the next president is detrimental to the well being of U.S. citizens. When students were asked about the presidential debate topics they cared about most, 31% of the 125 students surveyed said they cared most about the fight against COVID-19. According to one survey taker, “I don’t think President Trump did anything to combat the virus, so he is to blame for all the unnecessary deaths with all the lies about COVID.”
At a time when the economy has been hit the hardest, political leaders across the country will be facing a difficult recovery. Even students seem to understand the seriousness of this election. While students who are able to vote continue to seek out information for this particular election, it’s no surprise that the Tufts survey also recorded the percentage of young people ages (18-21) who said they had heard about the election from an online or social media source in addition to their friends and family.
The uncertainty about what is to come in the future following this election has caused some students to feel anxious or nervous about what’s in store.
“I think this election is making me really nervous for our future,” said another Don Lugo senior. “Our generation will be the face of change, and in order to accomplish that, a good leader needs to be elected to help carry out the vision that our generation sees.”
