The 2024 presidential election is just around the corner, and eligible high school students have an exciting opportunity to participate in one of the most important parts of our democracy. As first-time voters, high schoolers can make decisions that will affect their generation for years to come. It is their chance to engage in civic duty and determine the direction of the nation. 

In recent years, the youth vote has grown increasingly influential. According to data from the Center for Information and Research at Tufts University, around half of all Americans aged 18-29 voted in 2020, a large increase from 2016 in which only 39% voted. This surge of youth voting played a crucial role in key elections including the presidential race. With the growing influence of the youth vote, students 18 and older now have an opportunity to have their voices heard and create the change they want to see. 

For Mounds View High School students interested in voting, there are a couple ways to register. One way is to download a voter registration form to print, complete and return to a local elections office. Voters can also register online at the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon website. Another way is to register at polling places on election day or early voting locations before Election Day. 

In 2023, the Minnesota legislature also approved Automatic Voter Registration, allowing eligible Minnesotans to register when they apply or renew state identification documents. Minnesota’s online pre-registration is now closed,  and absentee votes have to be received by November 5. To register, students will need to provide basic information such as name, address and identification. Students can vote at their local polling station (which can be found here: pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us) or they can mail their vote through absentee ballots. Students can request absentee ballots online at the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

For students who are interested in voting but are not yet 18, pre-registration is an option worth considering. Pre-registration allows students to fill out a form to be added to the voter registration list, ensuring that when they turn 18, they are ready to vote. The easiest way students can pre-register is online, but a paper copy of the form can either be mailed to or dropped off at a county Elections Office or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Senior Emily Ren, who spearheaded a pre-registration drive at Mounds View, stresses the importance of voting early. “[It is crucial to] get anyone who’s 16 and up to build those healthy habits and already get into the system. That way when they’re 18, they can automatically vote. We’re able to just increase voter efficacy and make sure that people are understanding the importance of voting because building those healthy habits two years before you can even legally vote is so so valuable,” she said.

As the presidential election approaches, Mounds View students can seize the unique opportunity to make their voices heard. Participating in voting not only shapes America’s future but also empowers students to advocate for the issues that matter to them. Whether through in-person voting or preregistration, students can get involved in several ways to make the youth perspective heard in our democracy.