When asked which people are affected the most by the 2016 presidential election, most people would probably respond with Trump or Clinton. Yet it is undeniable that this election has also deeply impacted our country’s youth, including some of our very own Upper Division students here at Berkeley. For seniors turning 18 this year, this election is their first chance to vote. For those who are 16 or 17 years old, this election is a chance for them to pre-register so they may cast a ballot once they do come of age.

To gain a closer look into the world of voting, The Fanfare sat down with two students who have already registered to vote.

Sykes Eckhard ‘17 stated that she felt excited about voting: “I’m really excited about voting because I turn 18 the day before the election, so I’m very lucky to be able to participate instead of waiting another four years. I think it’s a really great opportunity to show how you care for your country, and I think it’s a really great way to get involved.”

Dawn Taylor ‘17 told students not to think of voting as a burden: “I feel like the whole responsibility thing deters you from voting sometimes; it makes voting seem like a huge deal. But honestly, it’s really easy to do […]. Don’t let the responsibility part of voting make you think of voting as a tedious task.”

Upper Division history teacher Lisa Carey connected her work in the history department to the importance of voting, saying “I think one of the purposes of our history department is to help understand the role our government plays, and the role that they [students] as citizens play. And one of those important roles is voting.”

Taylor and Eckhard shared one similar opinion: they both believed that everyone should vote once eligible. “It [voting] may seem like a bubble or a check mark, but it’s actually who you think should represent the community- whether it’s a president, or a governor, or a senator, or a representative. I think your vote is important,” said Taylor. Eckhard agreed, saying “I think if you have the opportunity you should definitely vote. Every vote counts. Even if you say your vote isn’t effective, it probably is.”

When asked whether she felt a lot of students were excited about voting, Carey paused before answering,“I don’t know, I think a few are excited about voting, and I think a few feel that they should vote, and then I think there a lot that really just don’t care. But those are the students I’d like to reach, because our government is very much a democracy that depends on informed and intelligent participation.”

This year’s election is coming to a close, but as we get pumped for the next election in 2020, consider voting.