In 2020, Joe Biden won a historical and controversial election against Donald Trump. Four years later, his first presidential term is done, and the country has reached the next presidential election.

This year’s election is not one to forget either, with the current president stepping down as the democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris taking over his role as democratic candidate. Harris is the second female democratic candidate to ever run for the presidency and will be competing against former President and Republican candidate Donald J. Trump.

Presidential elections are an important part of the culture and history of the United States, the U.S. president is not only important to the Land Of Liberty, but to other countries near and far. Voting is also an important part of the election and means many things to many people.

As not just a U.S. history teacher, but also as a veteran and citizen, the value and importance of voting is no small feat to Ms. Jenkins. “Voting is so essentially American,” Jenkins said. “Voting is not only a gift that previous generations have given us, but it is an essential duty as an American Citizen.”

Jenkins encourages those young and old not just to get out there and vote, but to also get involved in the elections within their community by volunteering and running for office.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Jenkins said. She emphasized that getting involved and educating yourself about issues most important to you are just some of the things that you can do to promote democracy and better your community and those around you.

“This year it is more important than ever,” Jenkins said. With so many varying opinions and drama surrounding this year’s election, standing up for your beliefs and casting your ballot are just two of the many things you can do to make your mark on history.

Nathan Capp is someone who also shares this anticipation for what will come of this election. This year will be his very first time voting, and to him, choosing a leader means more than just picking a decent headman for the country. “For a country of such strength and such world power, we need someone that is mentally and physically strong enough to lead a country,” Capp said.

Capp regards his interest in the political landscape of the U.S. as a “double-edged sword,” Capp said. “I like talking about it, I like learning about it, but I don’t like talking and learning about it from other people, I like to do my own research.”

Many often feel exhausted by American politics and are discouraged from casting their ballot because of this, but many also have strong opinions, making politics such a complex and disputed topic.

“The younger population sets up future generations to start voting, and to repeat the process with their kids and so on,” Capp said, emphasizing the important role that the younger generation plays in this election and other elections in the past and future.

Mayor Megan Sladek is no stranger to the concept of an election, winning the race for her third term as Oviedo mayor in 2023.

“What’s very interesting about this presidential race is that a lot of people have got to ask themselves, ‘What do I value the most?’” Sladek said, referring to undecided voters.

“Uneducated voters are just wild cards,” Sladek said. “To the average voter, it’s like, picking who the class president is going to be in middle school,” highlighting the casual attitude the average voter has on the election. These casual voters however make up a good amount of the citizens who are voting this year, making them one of the most important demographics in this election.

For many Americans, the election is an opportunity to share their beliefs and ideology with their government, and hopefully see the change they want. Getting involved and educating yourself on issues that matter the most to you are just the beginning, taking that education and awareness to the polls is what truly matters.