Sygne Stole

Despite busy schedules, anxiety over the upcoming election or their own eligibility to vote, students are writing postcards, making phone calls and working as junior election judges — and they are determined to defend democracy and make a difference.

Members of the U-High Progressives have worked to write nonpartisan postcards encouraging voters in swing states, like Wisconsin and Michigan, to cast their ballots.

Co-president Lucie Bhatoey-Bertrand emphasized the importance of uniting behind civic engagement.

“As a senior it’s a little bit difficult because it’s a really overwhelming time already and then the election on top of that, it’s hard to be involved,” she said. “But I think moments like that are where we can all come together and do something, even if it’s small, to help participate or to engage civically.”

Co-president Alice Cox said young people should get involved to express their beliefs. 

“It’s important that they get involved in the election process, especially when we’re going to become adults in such a time when this election will be critical,” she said. “I think a lot of younger people have specific issues in mind when they’re talking about politics nowadays.”

Students who chose to work as a junior election judge on Nov. 5 will oversee polling stations and assist voters to ensure the election runs smoothly. They’ll begin before polls open at 6 a.m. and work until after the polls close at 7 p.m., earning $230 for the day.

Senior Helena Emerton signed up because she feels a strong responsibility to defend democracy.

“The insurrection on Jan. 6 is shutting out the voices of people and ignoring the vote and kind of crushing the democracy that is central to our country,” she said. “I think that it’s important to me that I’m having this role and making sure that people’s voices are just being heard and that democracy is still intact.”

Lucie is also participating as an election judge. 

“I think being a high school election judge allows me to participate in democracy in a way that is productive and helpful,” she said. “I’m working with the Republican Party, while I align more with the values of the Democratic Party. So for me, I think that this election and the sacredness of democracy really transcends issues like party politics and partisan politics.”

Some students made phone calls over the summer, including junior Summer Pinc who supported Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ campaign.

Summer volunteered to alleviate her anxiety about the upcoming election’s unclear outcome.

“I feel like a lot of the time elections affect a lot of the way that the U.S. interacts with outside countries, and I feel like this election is really going to affect the lives of a lot of people, specifically minority groups,” she said. “I feel like now more than ever, it’s really important to protect people’s livelihood and to allow people the freedom to do what they want and protect U.S. democracy.”

While participating in different activities, all U-High students seem to be echoing the same message: they can make an impact on the future of democracy. Civic engagement does not begin at the ballot box — it starts with taking action.