“Gen Z is big, it’s your guy’s time because you guys have a lot of people,” says Mr. Flores, a Millikan PEACE Constitutional Law teacher.
On Mar. 5, 2024, the California primary elections, for all parties, will be held. So, seniors, will you be 18 by March 5th? If so, have you started the process for registering to vote? If you are interested in registering here is the online voter registration.
Primary elections have already begun, in fact some states started elections as early as Jan. 15 and all will end as late as Sep. 5. Primary elections give the voter a list of possible candidates for the presidential election in November, so the voter ultimately has a voice on who will run during the presidential election.
In California, qualified political parties (like democratic republican, or Independent) can choose from either of the two types of primary elections. One is a closed presidential primary which only allows you to vote for the candidate if you have previously indicated a preference towards the nominees party, usually when you register to vote. The second is a modified-closed presidential primary that allows you to vote for a nominee without indicating a preference toward the nominee’s party.
According to the California Secretary of State page, each qualified party will get two candidates for the presidential election, for a candidate to win they have to be one of two of the top vote-getters for that party.
For the Republican party, former president (2016-2020) Donald Trump is ahead with 63 delegates. Nikki Haley, a former US ambassador for the United Nations, is behind with 17 delegates.
The Democratic party has recently started the primary elections, current president Joe Biden is in the lead with 91 delegates, current U.S. representative Dean Phillips does not yet have any delegate votes, and all other candidates have dropped out.
If you are 16-17 you can pre-register to vote and if you are 18 you can register to vote! In order to do so you must be a U.S. citizen, a California resident, not found mentally incapable, and not currently in a prison term. For those of you who are not yet eligible to vote, now is the time to learn about the process because if you are passionate about a topic and want change, voting is one way to make the change. Now is the time to use your voice as well, even if you can’t vote yet, your voice is important and can make a difference.
Constitutional Law teacher Mr. Flores says “Baby boomers are a very large generation, they have a lot of power, and after them came Gen X and Millennials. Flores added, “Politically you guys don’t [have a lot of power] because you don’t vote, if you guys start to vote then you guys will have more power to make a change.”
Your voice matters and your voice can make a difference so, if you’re 18 don’t forget to vote!
