Many high school students are uninformed of the current situation of the 2020 elections, but those who are aware tend to be very passionate about certain matters. The year 2020 is a year of change. So much has already happened this year considering it is only February, especially concerning Donald Trump and those involved with the United State’s government. The election does not just concern the citizens who can vote but more importantly the citizens who can’t yet but soon will be able to. The younger generations are so close to having the ability to be apart of the action, but still so far from their voices to be taken into consideration. 

The ability of one’s opinions to be heard is very crucial in politics. D.J Holmes, a 17-year-old senior at Milwaukie High School plans on voting in the 2020 election. Holmes feels that some of his peers are well educated on the government’s issues and election statutes, but he still believes that there is still a great number of students who just don’t care enough to stay current on information concerning the election/government. 

Natalie Corona, a 16-year-old junior at Milwaukie Academy of the Arts says she would vote if given the legal chance, stating, “Yes, a lot of people do pay attention because that is our future.” Corona still thinks that not everyone, even though they should, just don’t care. 

Collin Herrera, a 17-year-old junior at Milwaukie Academy of the Arts, loves the idea of being able to vote but is unable to for another year, though he plans on it when legally able to. “I don’t think that a lot of students know what’s going on, most of them are borderline educated, but not fully educated.” 

Jayne Harrington, a Milwaukie High School Chem Teacher, and Putnam Alumni, she plans on voting. Harrington says that the number of students being aware of current politics depends on the type of student. She states, “If students choose to be informed they can, but they can also be influenced by the people around them and their personal bias…There’s gonna be a lot of noise and a lot of big changes…There’s gonna be a lot of talk throughout the whole country.”

  The younger generation that will be eligible to vote within the next few years needs to be more concerned about those elected into government positions. A solid number of students are up to date and aware of current events but there is a large number of students who are unaware, uneducated and simply do not care enough to put any effort towards shaping the country’s future. 

A poll was done at Milwaukie High School and Milwaukie Academy of the Arts. 24 students voted as if they were voting in the real election. Sanders Won with 15 votes, then followed Buttigieg with 3 votes. Lastly, Biden and Trump tied with 2 each. Among those who voted, there was a group of students who refused to vote because of how uneducated they felt about the topic of the current political status.