As the Nov. 5 election approaches, student engagement in voting grows.
For Amy Peck, Parent’s Association Voter Registration Chair and St. Mark’s parent, ensuring that eligible students exercise their civic duty is of utmost importance.
Being the mother of a senior who is eligible to vote, Peck observed that in addition to her son’s impending college decisions, this election has sparked a newfound interest in politics.
“The combination of this huge election year, plus the fact that Oliver is a senior and looking at colleges and being thoughtful about where he wants to go after St. Mark’s, is causing him to be a little bit thoughtful about what’s going on in the world, in our country and in our state,” Peck said.
A student’s vote is no more or less important and impactful than that of an adult in America. Peck said she believes it is crucial for students to take this election seriously and fully use their right to vote.
“It is your civic duty as an American,” Peck said. “Many people around the world would love to trade places with an eligible voter here in the U.S. just to be able to live in a democracy that works. Our democracy only works if people show up to cast their vote. So we get what we get, and it’s 100 percent dependent on participation.”
For Peck, voting is an act that becomes easier and more habitual the more you partake in it.
She said she believes that beginning the voting process as early as high school can build a foundation for good voting habits in the future.
“Voting begets voting; it’s a little bit like going to the gym,” Peck said.
However, this election isn’t just for the president. Students and voters alike will be given the option to vote people into various levels of government.
“You’re not just choosing the president, you’re choosing our senators,” Peck said. “You’re choosing all of your congressional representatives. Texas legislative people and even judges are on the ballot. It’s an opportunity to vote for a whole lot of people who collectively impact how we govern in Dallas, in Texas and in the United States.”
Local races also are on the ballot.
“Other candidates for smaller positions deserve considerable amounts of attention too, because they will affect the current generation’s parents and even this generation further down the line,” Peck said. “It’s the people toward the bottom of the ballot that actually impact your every day, your neighborhood, your county and your precinct, more than whoever is senator or president.”
However, many new and unfamiliar names on the ballot can sometimes be daunting for many first-time voters, especially for students who aren’t well-informed.
“You can’t just show up on Election Day and wing it,” Peck said. “There are a lot of names on the ballot, and you don’t want to waste your vote if you don’t know who you’re voting for.”
Peck emphasizes the importance of students being well-informed and making thoughtful decisions when casting their ballots.
In addition, she said she believes students should ensure they digest news information from reputable sources.
“Social media is not a valid news source. I would encourage everybody who’s voting to go to real, trusted news sources and not through social media,” Peck said.