Their votes count just the same as those of astronauts, diplomats and leaders of Fortune 500 companies.
At 18, seven months before their high school graduations, they are casting ballots in a presidential election for the first time.
“It’s really weird,” said Jaimie Mesa, a Lakewood High senior. “It seems you are an adult and you think, ‘Oh gosh, I’m going to decide on my future.’ It’s kind of like, ‘Whoa.’ “
Interviews with students registered to vote from nine high schools across Snohomish County reveal a generation eager to jump into the political fray and inspired by parents, friends and lively classroom discussions.
Snohomish High School government teacher Tuck Gionet gives his students a voter registration packet when they turn 18.
“I tell them it’s the most powerful gift they’ll ever receive,” Gionet said. “They just have to use it.”
Here’s what the newly registered voters are thinking on the eve of the election:
Katy Acker, Arlington
Katy Acker of Arlington High School will vote for presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry. She is concerned about health care and is against a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
She is also thrilled to join the electorate.
“I am really excited about getting to vote,” Acker said. “I have always had strong opinions about political matters, and the fact that I get to have a chance to vote and express my opinion is awesome.”
Ricardo Aguayo, Lynnwood
Ricardo Aguayo of Lynnwood High will cast his ballot at Spruce Elementary, the school he attended as a little boy. He is most concerned about the Iraq war and national security, but was undecided as to who he would choose for president.
He loathed September’s primary when voters had to declare a political party.
“I like to be bipartisan,” he said. “I go with what I feel is right.”
Matt Ferguson, Granite Falls
Matt Ferguson of Granite Falls High School will go to the polls with his mother and vote for President Bush, saying he supports his positions on abortion and gay marriage.
In school, Ferguson has been learning about state candidates and issues. Classmates offer different views, but can’t persuade him to change his mind.
“I have my positions, and I just stick to them,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what they say.”
Sarah Gogarty, Everett
A friend who worked this summer on Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen’s campaign inspired Sarah Gogarty of Everett High School.
They registered to vote together, but that’s where the influence ended.
Gogarty voted for Bush on her absentee ballot.
“I’m religious and feel we need a religious president,” Gogarty said.
An only child raised in a single-parent home, Gogarty said her mother has been the biggest influence on her decisions in her first election – though she added these were her calls.
Wendy McCutchen, Everett
Wendy McCutchen of Cascade High celebrated her 18th birthday on Friday – three days within the cut-off – and registered to vote in September so she can go to the polls on Tuesday.
She dislikes the two-party system that governs American politics. And she also dislikes the last four years.
“I’m kind of teetering between two. I want to vote for (independent candidate Ralph) Nader … but I don’t want Bush in office,” McCutchen said.
On Sunday, she planned to sit down with her parents and her 20-year-old brother to go over all the issues and candidates as a family. And she credits her father for getting her to register to vote.
Still, she feels no pressure from her family to vote a certain way.
“It’s kind of ‘make your own choice.’ They’ve always been into uniqueness,” she said.
Jaimie Mesa, Lakewood
Jaimie Mesa of Lakewood High prefers to stay mum on who she is voting for in the presidential race.
“It’s like a birthday wish. You want to keep it to yourself,” she said.
Key issues for Mesa have been college costs and who is likely to generate jobs when she graduates.
“I paid attention to who was giving my parents tax breaks because they are paying for (college),” she said.
Destiny Mills, Marysville
Destiny Mills of Marysville-Pilchuck High School was undecided Friday on her vote for president. She is independent minded and disliked the September pick-a-party primary ballot.
“I think you should vote for someone based on who they are and not based on which party they are affiliated with,” she said.
Mills has studied the candidates’ positions closely on foreign and domestic issues from the war in Iraq to abortion, gay marriage and the right to bear arms.
One thing she has learned at an early age: be leery and analyze the small print and ellipses on campaign commercials and ads.
Tate Summers, Stanwood
Tate Summers of Stanwood High School credits his civics teacher with getting teenagers interested in the election.
“He got kind of angry at us because he thought we didn’t care,” Summers said. “But we listen. We are just not fiery about it.”
Summers is backing Bush.
“I support what he’s doing in Iraq mostly, and he’s pro-life, not pro-choice. He fits along more with my values,” Summers said.
Those values are instilled by his parents, whom Summers says have been his biggest influence in deciding how to vote.
Marcus Williams, Snohomish
Marcus Williams of Snohomish High may cross party lines in his first general election. He’ll vote for Mike Hope, a Republican, in his race against incumbent state Rep. Hans Dunshee in the 44th District. But he’s leaning toward Kerry for president.
“The war is probably just the biggest issue on which I’m undecided,” he said. “My sister’s boyfriend is in the military over there, so it impacts our family. And I want it to be handled well.”
He may find himself taking a different vote than his parents.
“It’s kind of nice to vote differently than they do, to see if you can persuade them to change their mind,” he added, noting he got his grandparents to favor I-884, which will boost school funding.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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