As Nov. 5 approaches, some high school seniors are preparing to vote in their first election by mail or at polling locations. For some seniors, it feels more monumental because this is a presidential election year.
In Colorado, voters can register online, by mail, or in person at any office that provides voter registration or application services, offices that provide public assistance, military recruitment offices, or the Department of Motor Vehicles when getting or updating a license. Voters may register in person up until Election Day online or by mail until eight days before Election Day.
To be eligible to register to vote you must be a citizen of the United States and have been a resident of Colorado for at least 22 days before Election Day. You can pre register to vote at the age of sixteen, but you must be eighteen years old on or before Election Day to vote.
(Naomi Porter)
Voting can be done in person or by mail. Early voting centers open fifteen days before Election Day. To vote in person, you must have a valid form of identification that shows that your address is a Colorado address. If you are voting by mail and you have voted by mail before, you don’t need to show your identification. If it is your first time voting, then you may need to send in a photocopy of a valid form of identification. There will be a red stamp on your ballot if this is the case.
The closest dropbox locations for Manitou Springs residents are at the Manitou Springs City Hall, the drop box in Bear Creek, and various locations in the Springs. People looking to vote in person can go to the Centennial Hall/Downtown, Powers/Southeast Branch of the Motor Vehicle Department, or the Citizens Service Center Main Office. Additional places to vote can be found at justvotecolorado.org/locations.
Students who live in Teller County can drop their ballots at the Woodland Park Motor Vehicle Branch office or the Divide Market Place. In person voting for Teller county residents can be done at the Woodland Park Library.
Students born on or before Nov. 5, 2006 are able to vote in this election as long as they’re registered, meaning that many high school seniors have the opportunity to vote in their first election this year. Manitou Springs High School has 21 seniors eligible to vote.
Spencer Aldridge, a senior at MSHS, is voting in his first election this year. “It definitely brings a responsibility,” Aldridge said, “You’re an adult now, you have responsibilities in this country and in life, and that’s a new feeling; but it’s kind of cool.”
Other seniors are feeling the same way. Annika Kuzbek, another senior at MSHS, says that it all feels surreal. “I have a sister, she’s like three and a half years older than me, and we’re both voting in our first election at the same time,” Kuzbek said. “It feels kind of weird.”
High school seniors are making their election decisions by talking to the other people in their lives that are already voting and also doing their own research.
“I’ve been reading everything I can about the candidates to see which one is the best choice,” Lily Kocks, another senior, said. “I know it’s important that I get as much research done as I can.”
Parents and the older people in their lives are other ways that high schoolers are making sure that they’re as informed as they can be.
“I’ve talked to my dad, because he knows a lot about it and he does a lot of research,” Kuzbek said. “I’ll probably have to do a lot of research about the policies and what they mean as well.”
(Naomi Porter)
Aldridge is also doing his own research while talking to other people in his life. “I’m trying to think about it logically and stay in touch with the news while listening to what other people have to say,” Aldridge said.
Aldridge has decided to vote in person for his first election. “I’d like to go in person just to see what it’s like,” Aldridge said. “It also just seems a little less complicated to go in instead of mailing it.”
MSHS seniors understand the importance of voting and encourage other people to vote, along with not being too swayed by what other people may think when making decisions. “Colorado is a swing state, so your vote definitely is going to matter,” Kuzbek said. “You should do your research, and you shouldn’t just copy what your parents or your friends are doing.”
