The 2024 presidential elections are only ten days away, and the countdown to the deadline for voter registration has begun. Students must take action now, and take the initiative to use their voices and increase the representation of youth in politics.
The most noteworthy position on the ballot this fall is the Presidency of the United States. Current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are battling head to head in an extremely close race. As of October 16, the New York Times national poll determined that Harris has about 49% of votes, with Trump close behind at 47%. The chief political analyst of the New York Times, Nate Cohn, emphasized how close the election will be, further signifying that every vote will count. “Kamala Harris and Donald Trump [are] essentially tied across the seven key battleground states. It’s hard to think of any election when so many critical states were so close in the polls at this stage.”
Students voting will also have the opportunity to vote for the next U.S. Senator in California. Members of the Senate have the power to propose legislation, draft bills or amendments, and oversee the federal budget amongst other responsibilities. AP Government and Politics teacher at Costa, Steve Singiser, revealed how interesting the two candidates this year are. “We have an intriguing U.S. Senate race in California between Democrat Adam Schiff, who is perhaps best known for his management of the impeachment of Donald Trump, and Republican Steve Garvey, who is probably best known for his tenure as a first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1970s and early 1980s,” Singiser said.
Students eligible will also have a voice in the upcoming Manhattan Beach City Council elections. Six candidates are fighting for three City Council Member spots, while only one candidate is running for the Treasury. Members of the council make local decisions which impact all Costa students and members of the community. For instance, the council is currently discussing e-bike safety regulations, which is important for the many students who use e-bikes as a mode of transportation, or for student drivers who oppose them. Regardless, student involvement in these decisions is extremely beneficial.
2024 California Ballot Propositions to look out for
PROPOSITION 4:
Proposition 4 involves borrowing 10 billion dollars to spend on environmental and climate projects. Approximately 3.8 billion would go towards water quality and conservation, which is especially relevant to California as we are currently in a drought. The remaining 6.2 billion dollars would be spent on wildlife, natural lands, coastal protection, clean energy, and agricultural projects. In particular, students who take part in the Environmental Awareness, EnviroTech, Heal the Bay, and Growing Green Clubs, may be interested in deciding whether or not this will become a reality.
However, people in opposition argue
that California already has about $85.5 billion in bond debt, and that California is already overspending. To add on, a portion of the $10 billion would go towards less threatening issues and events such as farmers markets. Some individuals believe that this money should be spent on more pressing is-
sues, and do not want their tax money to go towards this cause.
PROPOSITION 33:
California is one of the most expensive states in the country to live in, and increased rent has made it extremely difficult to afford housing. Costa-Hawkins is a current law in place which prohibits cities from setting rent control on homes and apartments built after 1995, and allows landlords to set any rental rates they want when new tenants move in.
Proposition 33 would change this system. Cities would have the power to control the rent on any and all types of property, which could make California a much more affordable place to live. However, it could also decrease protections for seniors and disabled people, as well as overturn around 100 housing
laws. California has a large number of propositions on the ballot this year. La Vista took a
look at a few ballot initiatives to help students make informed decisions this November.
Many of the propositions have the potential to impact our local community, and young
voters have the opportunity to make a difference with their votes.
PROPOSITION 32:
If students are not interested in global affairs, they have the opportunity to vote for propositions that have a more direct impact on them. Proposition 32 suggests raising the minimum wage in California to $18 an hour. If approved, this would allow people to make more money, but could also result in inflation and increased prices.
Luca O’Neil, an 18 year old senior at Costa is currently an employee at Baskin Robbins.“For high schoolers, increasing the overall minimum wage in California would allow us to earn a high salary and push many more students to begin working. However, raising the minimum wage also has consequences for people working,” O’Neill said.
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