For many seniors, the upcoming election presents a right of passage into adulthood and responsibility. For others, it may simply provide frustration. One such student is senior Charles Chisom, who will not be going to the polls. It is not disenchantment with the electoral system or frustration with smear politics that will be holding Chisom back, however. “I am days too young to vote,” he said. “I turn 18 [on] Nov. 1.” Chisom is one of many Gunn seniors who will fall a bit short of the minimum voting age, despite having strong political views.

Among these seniors is senior Lisa Aguilar. “I think it is very good for seniors to be voting because it is important to take part in choosing who our future president will be,” Aguilar said. Aguilar herself will fall a year short of the legal voting age. Senior Bertie Cannon shared similar sentiments. “I believe that all seniors that can vote should, because it reflects the next four year of our lives,” Cannon said. “Our priorities should be shaping our lives as well. We need to step up to the plate and be more responsible, respectful and take change as a generation that could take the United States back out of recession.”

Senior Cameron Rost, who will be able to vote this election, agreed that a large voter demographic is for the best. “I think everyone has the right to vote,” he said. “If we get more people to vote, we might get a better approximation of what the people want.”

Chisom, however, questions how prepared some youth voters are. “I’m not sure if the majority of Gunn seniors would really know what qualities to look for in a president,” he said. “Many of the decisions presidents make tend to affect working class people with families. I think voting is more beneficial to people between the ages of 30 and 60.”

Senior Erica Barnes also held concerns about whether her peers are ready to have political influence. “I think priorities for the younger generation will be nothing in particular,” Barnes said. “I think a lot of kids are influenced by their parents.” Senior Annika Christensen disagreed. “I think Gunn seniors as a voting demographic are overwhelmingly liberal because they are highly educated and come from wealthy families,” Christensen said.

On the other hand, senior McKay Daines believed that even with the current voting laws, youth concerns will influence this year’s election. “Priorities that will emerge will be things that young people care about— equal rights and the war in Iraq,” he said.