Here & Now

Wisconsin High Schoolers Share Thoughts on the Right to Vote

Frederica Freyberg:

Wisconsin leads the nation in a ranking of youth voters that are likely to influence the midterm elections. That’s according to a Tufts research group saying Wisconsin youth have had above average voter engagement in the state’s recent competitive elections. We traveled out across the state in late September to find out what kinds of issues they’re thinking about and how they view their newly acquired right to vote.

Genesis Liebhaber:

Everyone obviously has different views but the option, the ability to vote is a way to get your view out, your decision no matter what it is.

Roman Madvig:

The right to vote is very important to me because I feel like if only one certain kind of people are allowed to vote, then you can’t get everyone’s opinion and then that won’t be equal.

Kolton Teichmiller:

If I couldn’t vote then I couldn’t really try to make an impact on what’s going on around me and if I can’t make an impact on what’s going on around me I’m just living here without any sort of say on anything that’s going on.

Julia Cleveland:

I would say it’s pretty important because I think even just one person voting can make a huge difference.

Bella Ruston:

The right to vote is extremely important because without the right to vote communities that are oppressed don’t have the opportunity to speak and they don’t have the opportunity to come forward with their stories through the people they elect into office.

Ashley Butkus:

I think as an American, you’re not using your full freedom, your full rights if you don’t vote. You have a say in what’s going on in the big picture, what’s going on in government and I think you should use that say and use your voice because it truly does matter.

Frederica Freyberg:

Those student interviews were conducted at schools across the state including at two with PBSNewsHour student reporting labs.