Jenna Forster’s mother had a hand in the senior’s voter registration process — literally.

“My mom registered me to vote online. … Once it’s my birthday [Oct. 3], the system puts it through, and I’ll be able to vote in November,” said Forster, whose mom also registered her as a Democrat, though the daughter plans to vote for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The whole process actually started over the summer this past June, though the 12th-grader’s mother said she has been discussing the importance of civic engagement for the last couple of years.

“She was eager … She was kind of curious to see how [the whole process] would look,” said Forster’s mom, Sheila Halvorson. “It was an adult thing to do.”

Halvorson said educating her daughter about civic engagement stems from her own values about what it means to live in a democracy.

“I believe voting is important, and everyone else in the family believes voting is important,” the mother said. “I believe her voice should be heard. … It’s kind of your duty as an American [to vote].”

But not all of Forster’s peers see voting as a duty. Halvorson’s daughter is among the 31 seniors on campus who are eligible to register to vote on or before Election Day, according to statistics provided by school officials. Of the 31, more than half — 17 (10 girls and seven boys) — have told The Accolade they are registered voters and plan to cast their ballot on or before Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

Another 45% — or 14 (seven girls and seven boys) — have told The Accolade they have chosen to exercise their right not to vote.

Such reluctance among Gen Zers to be active in civic engagement also showed up in an August online “Fact Sheet” posted by the Public Policy Institute of California, a non-partisan research firm based in San Francisco.

The report showed that as of July, about “22 million of California’s 26.9 million eligible adults (82%) were registered to vote.”

While Californians age 55 and older comprise half of likely voters, young adults (ages 18-34) “make up 31% of the population but only 21% of likely voters.” The rest, at 29% of likely voters, come from adults ages 35-54.

Senior Lucia Alvarez, who became eligible to vote when she turned 18 in February, is among those who have opted out of casting a ballot. Alvarez said one main reason for her apathy stems from after President Joe Biden announced in the summer that he was not seeking re-election.

“I was really excited [to vote at first] because you’re part of a change in your country that actually makes a big impact,” Alvarez said. “Because Biden was my best option, it’s really disappointing about the candidates since I don’t really support [any of] them.”

Senior Ralph Contreras also had a similar reason for his apathy.

“I don’t want to get into voting right now because I didn’t know too much about what was going on,” Contreras said. “Now, [Democratic presidential candidate] Kamala Harris is a new face, so I wasn’t sure if anything was too good about her yet.”

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROMOTED IN THE CLASSROOM

Social science teacher Hera Kwon, who teaches four classes of American Government, has been on the camp that see voting as not just a privilege but a duty.

“For those students who are going to vote, thank you because it’s important that we understand it’s a responsibility,” Kwon said. “Our vote is going to impact everyone around us, and it’s a pretty powerful thing.”

The instructor said she has told her Government classes about the State Seal of Civic Engagement, which recognizes California students who show excellence in civics education and participation. Students also have to show a good understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution and the democratic system of government, according to the California Department of Education’s website. 

“It’s about just getting more involved in your community, exercising qualities of being a good citizen,” said Kwon, who has also talked to her seniors about some of the state propositions and measures. “An important component of that is for those who have the privilege and the responsibility of voting, they have an added responsibility to be informed about the elections and what they’re going to be voting on.”

Advanced Placement Government teacher Greg Del Crognale said he told his students about the voter registration process.

“I showed them how they can register to vote, as you can register to vote as early as 16 in the state of California,” Del Crognale said. 

The instructor was referring to registertovote.ca.gov, where students who are also eligible to get their driver’s licenses can go online and start their civic engagement. Besides inputting their home address, applicants must also submit a California driver’s license if they have one or the last four digits of their Social Security number, according to the website.

They must also choose a political party or select “none.”

Once students turn 18, like with Forster, they are all set to fill out a ballot for the first time, which, according to the register to vote website, the state will send to applicants in the mail.

VOTING EARLY OR IN PERSON?

Those who are registered to vote can go in person on Election Day to cast their ballots at such local places in Fullerton as the American Red Cross Building, and the California State University, Fullerton, Titan Student Union.

The electorate could also have put their ballots in the mail or return them in person early to such places with voting boxes as Fullerton College, Fullerton Fire Station No. 6 and Fullerton Municipal Airport, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’ website.

Senior Samantha Dye, who turned 18 on Sept. 29, is among the registered voters who opted to turn in their ballots early.

“I have been looking forward to voting since around the age of 15 when I realized I would be eligible to vote the exact same year I turned 18,” said Dye, who brought her ballot to the Fullerton Joint Union High School District office on Monday, Nov. 4. “When I was younger, I was looking forward to voting because it would be the first official thing I would be able to do as an adult.”

The senior said she experienced some nervousness about the whole process.

“The nerves came because it is such a monumental occasion for someone like me who is freshly 18,” said Dye, who registered to vote online on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and favored Trump for president. “Really, it is the first big thing I did as an adult.

“It’s [also] nerve-wracking that time has gone by that fast, and it really makes me look back and realize that I’ve grown up.”

Like Forster, senior Lily Dalton said she plans to vote on Election Day Tuesday.

“I’m pretty excited because a lot of young people don’t care about voting, and that’s why the government doesn’t really take us seriously,” said Dalton, who pre-registered online to vote on Sunday, Oct. 20. “So the more young people that do vote, the more they’ll be inclined to listen to us.”

The senior said she’s a Harris supporter.

“I think it’s pretty exciting with President Joe Biden dropping out of the race and Harris taking over,” Dalton said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for new ideas and faces because the vice president that she chose was a very great pick, and I think that he’s really an all-around good guy, and it’s good to not have the same old people in the office every year.”

Students like Alvarez and Contreras can change their minds on Election Day and still register to vote and cast their ballot through a process known as Conditional Voter Registration. According to the California Secretary of State’s website, they just need to go in person to their county elections office, polling place or vote center.

According to the California Secretary of State’s website, a submitted provisional ballot will become an official ballot after the election officials confirm that they are registered to vote in their county and haven’t voted earlier in that election. 

MOMMY & ME OUTING

Forster’s mother said that as of Friday, Oct. 25, she plans to make Election Day an activity she would do with her daughter.

“I wanted to do the mother-daughter thing and go in person [to vote],” Halvorson said. “We could have lunch [after], and the next election, she could do whatever she wants.”

The mom said she also plans to make it memorable by taking some pictures.

“I am proud of my daughter for growing up into a very responsible young lady; I can’t wait to go to the voting polls with her,” she said. “It’s going to be a very exciting thing. … I couldn’t be happier to have such a great kid like her.”

This story was originally published on The Accolade on November 4, 2024.