The next President of the United States will be determined next week on election day as millions of Americans will cast their vote in what has already been a record-breaking election. 

Texas has already experienced record turnout in early voting (nearly seven million votes as of Oct. 24 according to the Associated Press). With early voting in person closing on Oct. 30, people still get a chance to vote on Nov. 3 to determine the winner of the presidential election. People eligible to vote can cast their ballot a several vote centers across Collin County, including Collin College, Fowler Middle School, and the Grove at Frisco Commons. 

Some seniors are in a unique position to participate in voting in this year’s election. While voter participation has usually been low among younger people, social media combined with the buzz of this year’s election has increased this generation’s awareness about the importance of voting. 

“I am going to vote. I believe it’s important, especially because most people who are eligible to vote choose not to, which means that my vote makes a big difference, and I know that only I can help bring about the change I want to see,” senior Natalie Goldberg said. 

Junior Matthew Kosanke ties the importance of voting to the origins of America’s founding beliefs and in having independence in choices concerning this country’s government. 

“I believe that everyone has an opinion, and that in order for the democracy in America to work, the people must use their right to vote. They must vote for what they personally believe is right, not what other people believe is right,” Kosanke said. 

Even though senior Leanne Tran does not fit the age requirement to vote, she personally feels that she would vote if she could in order to “contribute to electing the best leader of the country and do what she can to change the political atmosphere.” She views voting as a privilege that people should take advantage of.  

“Younger people should vote because it influences the direction in which the country goes and impacts future generations. Voting allows them to have a say in the country’s leadership,” Tran said. 

One of the most important issues concerning young voter turnout is education about politics. While better communication reach from technology has made it easier for younger people to become more educated about political issues, Goldbery believes that younger people need to make an effort to educate themselves before lining up for the polls. 

“Oftentimes, you hear people our age expressing their opinions on politics and the things they’re dissatisfied about. Now we are able to help change our government and make it better, not only for our generation but for the future ones as well,” Goldberg said. “I think that it’s important for us to be educated about politics because oftentimes we don’t know the facts. We hear opinions from our parents and social media, and we aren’t able to form an opinion of our own because we don’t do our own research. In order to help build a better government, we need to know the facts and figure out what we want to change.”