Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, many Sage Hill seniors are eligible to vote in the California primary elections, which will run from Feb. 5 to March 5.
The presidential primary elections are held before the general elections on Nov. 5 to determine the presidential candidates of each party. The elections are divided into two types: open, where voters can cast ballots in either party’s primary regardless of party affiliation, and closed, where voters may only cast ballots for their registered party. In 2010, California adopted an open, top-two primary system where the two candidates who earn the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the General Election. The presidential primaries also provide opportunities for parties to polish election strategy by gauging voters’ interests.
Senior Alexa Han will mark her ballot for the first time in a national election this year. As a soon-to-be college student looking toward joining the workforce, Han said that she prefers candidates who will provide “social safety nets,” such as student loan forgiveness, for students and people from middle-class backgrounds.
“These policies will be enacted when I’m in college… so I want a candidate that will provide stability and give support to people like me,” Han said.
Han is also concerned about more affordable healthcare and less censorship on controversial topics in education and media. As the elections draw nearer, Han will be looking out for candidates who advance policies that align with her concerns, using various news sources such as the Atlantic, the New York Times, CNN and occasionally Fox News to gauge platforms from both sides of the race.
Before casting her votes, senior Arden Stobart will look for candidates with realistic goals and solutions to the nation’s biggest challenges.
“I’m looking for someone who is reliable and will follow through on their promises,” Stobart said.
When deciding between different candidates, her main focus will be on their proposed economic policies for the country.
Senior Max Razmjoo shares similar concerns with Stobart, and he looks for presidential candidates who are decisive leaders and govern in a “technocratic manner.” These candidates will be selected based on their expertise in fields involving science or technical knowledge.
Besides the presidential election, Orange County voters will also cast votes in “down-ballot” races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State Assembly, Orange County Supervisor, the Orange County Board of Education and other local offices.
In a rare open primary for U.S. Senate, California voters will decide between Republican and former professional baseball player Steve Garvey, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).
There’s also a nationally-watched race to replace Porter as the representative of coastal Orange County’s 47th Congressional District. Former Republican state assemblyman Scott Baugh, State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and attorney and grassroots political organizer Joanna Weiss lead in endorsements and campaign fundraising in a crowded primary field, according to the Los Angeles Times.
While only students who turn 18 years old on or before March 5 are eligible to vote in the primary elections, those who reach legal age on or by Nov. 5 will still be able to participate in the General Election. Eligible students can register to vote through registertovote.ca.gov, and an array of mail-in ballots and polling locations are available from the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Students who are currently 16 or 17 years old can also pre-register to vote through the same website.
Historically, youth voters have shown a lower voter turnout rate than older, especially retirement aged voters. However, according to CalMatters, Californian youth voters possess the power to change election outcomes through their widespread support of environmental protection, equal rights for Americans who identify with the LGBT+ community, national abortion access and other social issues.
