As the 2024 election nears, HHS students filled out an election questionnaire , voicing their opinions on topics shaping the way voters will decide this election cycle. 133 students from grades 9-12 responded, although 97% of poll respondents are not eligible to vote, this allows us to look into the future on how Gen Z voters might vote in the future.
At the top of the ballot, students decided on either Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, and Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Kamala Harris soared to victory with 68.4% of the vote, Donald Trump receiving 31.6% of the vote. These results are unsurprising as Joe Biden won Harrisonburg with 64.5% of the vote in 2020, according to data from The Virginia Public Access Project.
Senior D’Shon Green notes Inflation as a main reason for his endorsement of Kamala Harris, “Groceries are harder to get, Gas has gone up a lot and It has affected my Parents a lot, which then affects me because I live with them,” Green Said. Green is not alone as 40 % of poll respondents chose inflation as a main issue that is impacting the country.
On the other side, Sophomore Daniel Marusich, believes that Kamala Harris wont fix the economic problems facing the country currently, “Personally I don’t really like both of the candidates very much, but because I just don’t agree with what a lot of what Kamala Harris has to say about the economy, and how she’s planning on fixing things, I’m just siding with Donald Trump,” Marusich Said.
Foreign policy has been a defining characteristic of the previous administration, as wars in Ukraine and Gaza have created a turbulent International system. Seniors Gio Sanchez-Garcia, and Donovan Eanes expressed foreign policy being a big issue affecting this year’s election.
Sanchez-Garcia believes that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will be a good leader for the U.S. on the global stage. “She seems less egocentric and a lot more grounded on what the United States want, instead of creating an environment that is very polarizing, and I feel like in the past the other candidate, has done decisions that I don’t agree with like taking us out of the World Health Organization, during a very critical time,” Sanchez-Garcia said.
Eanes believes that Republican nominee Donald Trump will be a good leader for a potentially unprepared U.S. in a large-scale conflict. “U.S. foreign policy needs to be handled well, because we could easily get into a war with China over the Philippines, and I don’t know how well-prepared America is for a large-scale conflict.
This year’s election also brings forth a close Harrisonburg City Council election, as Independent Javier Calleja, and Democratic nominees, Deanna Reed, Nasser Alsaadun, and Laura Dent are campaigning for three seats. Our HHS polling projects Deanna Reed, Nasser Alsaadun and Javier Calleja winning the three open seats and Laura Dent losing by only two votes to Javier Calleja.
Registered voters in Harrisonburg can cast their ballot at 8 different polling locations throughout the city. Thomas Harrison Middle School, Keister Elementary School, Stone Spring Elementary School, James Madison University’s Godwin Hall, Lucy Simms Center, Spotswood Elementary School and Smithland Elementary School are the voting locations for this year’s election and you can find out which polling location is districted to you through the City of Harrisonburg official website. City of Harrisonburg Precincts
