By Meghan Plambeck and Hannah Jespersen

With election day today, 18-year-old students at Atlantic High School are faced with the decision of whether or not to vote, and which candidate to support. Senior Blake Stender is eligible, and plans on voting. He thinks it’s important to vote “so you don’t get some dingus in office that’s going to add to our country’s problems.”

Some of the students who aren’t old enough to vote still have opinions on the upcoming elections. Junior Adam Wieser said he pays attention to the election, and “knows what’s up.” Wieser also stated that the election has a major impact on him “because Dad is a small business owner and each candidate has a different view on how to support small businesses.”

Some students don’t see importance in the issue of voting. Freshman Madison Helvie said that the election doesn’t affect her and that she “hasn’t paid much attention to it.” She added, “I don’t think voting really makes a difference.”

Different teachers are able to see the impact of the election at varying levels in their classes. Teacher Derek Baier says that in his classes, his students often ask him questions on the election, and says that he also hears them talking to each other about the candidates’ positions on the issues.

Spanish teacher Dan Vargason says that his classes don’t talk about politics, and added that he thinks “most kids don’t care about politics.” Vargason and Baier both agreed that voting is important. Vargason said, “Everybody that can vote should vote.” Baier believes 18-year-olds need to vote because “The choices they’re making will impact their future.”