First-time Voters: How they plan on voting

Danielle Franz
Nov 5 · 3 min read
Campaign Signs for the upcoming election located in Nassau County.

Garden City, N.Y. — Voting can be both exciting and stressful, especially for first-time voters. The number of various candidates and politicians running for office in both Nassau and Suffolk County can be overwhelming when deciding who best fits the desired positions. The election process can be quite difficult to grasp and understand, but two senior students at Garden City High School know exactly how they plan on voting today.

A voting poll located in Garden City.

To the polls

Anthony Magnotta, a senior at Garden City High School and a first-time voter, is ready to head to the polls later today with his family and vote for who they believe to be the best future politicians to lead Nassau County. He believes it is crucial for those who are first-time voters to vote today, giving their opinion for the future of Nassau County.

“I recently registered to vote at the high school. My parents plan on voting for this upcoming election, as do I. I think it is really important to vote this Tuesday if you can. Although I am a little nervous since it is my first time voting I am excited about the whole process.”

First-time voters who were interviewed, attend Garden City High School as senior year students. Students registered to vote at their high school.

Getting students involved

Not only is the process of registering important, but being knowledgeable about each candidate running is an essential part of voting properly. Knowing who you are voting for and why, it is truly what heading to the polls is all about. High School senior, Dylan Lalehzar, states how researching each candidate and their campaign makes who to vote for easier.

“ I am excited since this is my first time voting. My parents and I are voting for Don Clavin for Supervisor. Since my parents are taxpayers they want someone in office who cares and puts taxpayers first which is what Clavin’s campaign and mission are all about.”

Campaign poster for Don Clavin who is running currently for Supervisor.

Knowledge through the media

First-time voters who are everyday users of social media believe the media and the news are an influential factor in determining who to vote for during this election season. For the candidates, the media can be both favorable and detrimental, depending on how the media and public view you and your campaign.

Dylan Lalehzar firmly believes in checking the social media pages, the news, and other media sites to correctly decipher who best fits what position in Nassau County.

“I believe the news and media influence who you vote for. If you see negative things about someone, you are probably less likely to vote for them. But I have done my research on who I am voting for.”

The impact of voting

Voting for the first time can be overwhelming at times, considering the great number of candidates running for various positions in Nassau County. However, voting and being knowledgeable about each candidate is important for first-time voters, giving them the opportunity to speak their voice and opinion at a young age to determine the future of Long Island.

Photo montage of campaign posters and voting polls.
Danielle Franz

Written by

Hofstra University Student, Senior Year Journalism student. Pre-law Honors Student.

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