Your teenager may now be of voting age, which is a huge accomplishment! They may not realize how important voting is in the moment, so you may want to take some time to discuss with them how voting works, how to stay informed, and how to make a decision.
Staying Up to Date
No matter the political party they choose, it’s important for your teen to listen to as many debates as possible. They may have already picked who they want to vote for, but remind them to stay informed and up to date on all the debates and discussions going on with the candidates. Make sure they realize it isn’t a decision to take lightly, and there are many issues in today’s world that a candidate will have a stance on. Remind your teen when the debates are happening and help them have the chance to watch them when they can.
Knowing All the Candidates
Everybody always gives the most attention to the presidential race, but remind your teen about all the officials that are running and up for election. People often forget or don’t follow the other candidates as closely as the presidential race, but these officials are just as important. Governor, County Commissioner, Attorney General, and more all make decisions for your neighborhood, and shouldn’t be ignored or voted for willy-nilly. Remind your teen to try and do a little homework or research on whichever local candidates are up for election (or re-election) so they also feel prepared for this side of the voting as well.
Election Day
Your teen may have researched and watched all there was to know about the candidates, and feels as ready as they are going to be for voting. But on the day of voting, showing up to the polling location can feel a little overwhelming. Your teen may feel nervous or anxious when it comes to voting in person, and what to do. Make sure you give them a heads up on how the process works, and what they need to bring with them in order to vote. They will most likely be unfamiliar with the paper ballots so it’s always a good idea to give them a heads up on that as well. Or better yet, try to go voting together so that you can help them along in their voting journey and help answer any questions they may have. Everybody should vote, so don’t let your teen miss out on their first opportunity!
Katie Kyzivat