Citizens across the country lined up outside of polling stations ready to cast their votes in the 2024 general election on Nov. 5. The most notable issue on the ballot was America’s future president, and after an intense race, Republican Donald Trump won with 295 electoral votes against Kamala Harris’s 226 electoral votes. (These totals were of the morning of Nov. 7, you can see current numbers on APNews.) In Missouri there were numerous issues including amendments on minimum wage and abortion. To see the remaining results for Missouri visit MO.gov.

While most high school students can’t vote, several found ways to help with the election by volunteering as youth election judges. Louis Stoyanov (11) was one of the volunteers at Liberty’s station. He helped voters to insert their ballots into the machine properly.

Stoyanov volunteered because he enjoys “civics and being participatory in politics,” even though he can not vote. He went on to say that voting is important because “it allows people’s voices to be heard. Even if your candidate doesn’t win you still get solidarity in knowing that others in the country think alike and can support you.”

Allison Rigby (12) had the opportunity to vote in this election. She described the experience to be “incredibly simple.” Finding it to be unlike her expectations of “irritated people, and negativity,” she felt it was secure and professional. 

Rigby went on to say that her grandpa inspired her to vote because “he is very insistent about how important it is.” She finds that voting is “important because it’s a privilege for citizens,” and that it’s “what makes our country a democracy.”

Will Bohn (12) was also able to vote, and was inspired to do so by the people around him, and the research he did beforehand, saying, “the more I learned about it (the election) the more I couldn’t wait to vote.” He went on to say that voting is important because “everyone has an opinion and they need to show it by voting.”