For the people. By the people. We the people.
The United States of America is built on the notion of representation of all and founded on the ideal that even the smallest voices, whether that be a young colonist or a student in the 21st century, can move mountains.
As The United States has progressed, that doctrine has become all the more relevant, whether that was depicted in the 15th amendment (allowing African-Americans to vote), the 19th amendment (allowing women to vote), or the 26th amendment (allowing people at the age of 18 and above to vote). Voting is the driving factor behind not only America’s progressive history, but a major force in transforming the 13 colonies into a global powerhouse.
Voting is the cornerstone of America’s democracy and needs to be utilized at every level. Within Sandra Day O’Connor High School, out of the 2560 students, only 1.5 percent, forty students, get a voice.
Within OHS’s Student Government, the general student population only gets to vote on two representatives elected into office. However, this election has no platform for voters to know who is qualified. There are no speeches or debates, and students’ only voting opportunity at school is influenced by popularity and creatively-decorated posters.
Additionally, in terms of leadership roles, that 1.5 percent of the student population gets full authority to decide who gets elected into class positions roles (Class President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer).
Not to mention, the more generalized titles (Student Body President, Vice President, Public Relations, etc) that include the term, “Student Body,” are also only decided by the forty students within Student Government, despite the student body not ever actually getting a say on who is elected into them.
These titles mean much more than a box checked on a college application. These officer roles are filled by the people who plan proms, homecomings, Friday night football games, and every spirit week seen across campus. Ultimately, they plan the events instrumental to students’ high school experience.
A student’s work ethic is essential to success in any student-led program, and the young people attending OHS are not blind to that. Students are fully capable of being able to vote based on qualifications and merit, and it is a shame they are treated as though they are not educated enough to make that decision.
The purpose of Student Government is to represent the people of OHS, from the quietest voice to the loudest force on campus including every athlete, thespian, club participant, and musically-inclined individual. Every student should get a say on who is planning the key events high school kids experience, but more importantly, they should have a say on who represents them.
Additionally, not pushing students to participate in public elections discourage young people from taking part in real-world political races. Not allowing students to vote pushes the mindset that voting really is not necessary at all. According to a report done by CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), the National Youth Turnout for voting in 2022 was only 23%, and the only way to increase that number is by insisting that voting is a necessary civic duty everyone eligible must take part in.
If OHS’s students are not qualified enough to vote on who paints their posters and plans their proms, what would make them think their vote matters in real-life elections for their next governor, senator, or even president of The United States? Voting must be promoted as a necessary civic duty, or else young people will not be motivated to take part in it.
Voting for an office in Student Government is so much more than a simple ballot casted. It is more than having a say in who plans your high school experience. It is about having a voice in who represents the students, no matter the circumstance; therefore, for Student Government to truly represent the young people of OHS, their voice must be included within school elections, and students must advocate for their voices to be heard.
