As a first-time voter, do you know why voting matters, who to vote for, or where to vote?
New voters can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at an election office. You must register to vote by April 21st. State primary elections are on May 12th. If you are 18 years old by November 3rd, the day of the general election, you can vote in both the primary and general elections.
Steven Kettler, teacher, shared advice for first time voters, “Make sure you know where and when to vote. You can’t just show up to any polling place and expect to vote. Each voter has a designated polling place based on their home address. Check your Voter ID card or online to learn where your polling place is. Also, check to see what hours your polling place is open.”
Many candidates go head-to-head in primary elections, so it is essential voters know who their options are. In Hancock County, we generally fall into District 1 for both Senate and House of Delegates, meaning you vote for the district 1 candidates. If a candidate running in the upcoming primary election wins, they represent their parties in the upcoming general elections. General election winners will become WV’s new senators and delegates. These thirty-four senators and one hundred delegates will be lawmakers for WV.
In WV, a new rule has taken place for republican voters. While registered independent, unaffiliated, or democrat voters can still vote for a democratic candidate, you must be a registered republican to vote for the republican candidate in the primary.
According to a PBS article by Nicholas Riccardi, Linley Sanders, and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, the majority of people under thirty do not follow politics or feel voting even matters. Brayden Racicot, senior, explains why he feels voting is important. “It’s important for young people to participate in voting as this is your future; you’ll be working, trying to buy a house, and living in this economy. Social issues the government prioritizes will affect your life. The bottom line is this is the America you’ll spend the next 70-80 years in. Don’t you want to have a choice in what that America looks like for you?”
Politics are more than just voting. Advocacy can make the biggest changes. Getting involved as someone under 18 can be difficult, but many still do. London Donahoe, Huntington High School student, has focused his time and effort over the years on something he feels truly passionate about: politics. “People often question why I am involved in politics; knocking doors, working on campaigns, and being vocal on social media if I am not old enough to vote. I often tell them that I am so active because I cannot vote, not despite it.”
Donahoe has been involved in numerous advocacy efforts. When asked about them, he answered, “I signed up to volunteer for a mayoral candidate here in Huntington. When my candidate lost by just under 500 votes, around 2% of the entire vote, I was disappointed, but that moment is what sparked my dedication to fight even harder… Since then, I have founded the first chapter of Sunrise Movement, a youth-led environmental/social justice organization, in West Virginia”
Even if you are under 18 and cannot vote, you can practice youth advocacy by contacting state representatives or even posting on social media.
