On The Verge of Voting

Class of 2024 eligible to vote in crucial local,

state, national elections
Alan Tang OnLine Opinions Editor Allie Deutsch News Editor Sakura Mogami Reporter Philip Rotondo Editor-in-chief

G un control. Climate change. Abortion.

According to a recent poll of McLean
students, these are the issues most important
acted to represent the left and right wings
of student voices. The McLean Young
Democrats club is a local chapter of the
“YAF officially does not lobby for any
political policies. It’s a nonprofit organization,
which means you cannot be affiliated
to the student body. Nationwide, these Young Democrats of America, the official with any political parties,” Zhang said.
topics spark heated debates from American youth chapter of the Democratic Party. “[However], it does espouse more classical
households all the way to the chambers of “[The Young Democrats] are focused liberal-conservative ideas, or conservative in
Congress. on legislation, supporting Democrats and the modern sense.”
Next year, the McLean High School getting young Democrat teens involved,” said Some of the YAF’s activities involve
Class of 2024 will help shape the U.S. senior Aidan Shaughnessy, vice president of outreach and education for young
forever. The upcoming elections, especially the club. conservatives.
the presidential election, could drastically “There was a big push with the 9/11
shift the dynamics of American politics. A Foundation, which asked students from
wide array of Republican nominees seek to campuses to plant flags representing everyone
challenge sitting President Joe Biden, notably IT CAN BE EASY TO BE who died in the [attacks] to honor those
his predecessor, Donald Trump. In McLean, people,” Zhang said. “They’re also hosting
local residents will elect representatives and PULLED INTO THE ALLURE an Escaping Communism conference, a two-
senators to be Virginia’s voice in the polished
marble halls of the Capitol.
OF NATIONAL POLITICS, BUT day conference for learning about the evils
of communism from some of the survivors
Two distinct ideologies dominate I’VE COME TO FIND THAT of that political ideology. ”
contemporary American politics: liberalism Politically active McLean students pursue
and conservatism. Liberals, associated
THE POLITICS THAT IMPACT organizations and opportunities beyond
with the Democratic Party, prioritize OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES ARE school. In fact, the activism of students
social progressiveness and a strong extends to the state and national levels. For
federal government. On the other hand, VERY LOCAL.” instance, Shaughnessy has been volunteering
conservatives from the Republican Party - ELEANOR AGUE with Voters of Tomorrow to push for
emphasize traditional views, deregulation SENIOR statewide legislation.
of the economy and reduced government “We’ve drafted a lot of legislation and
control. introduced bills,” Shaughnessy said. “I’ve
At McLean, politics are an essential part Although teens at McLean can make a been to Richmond and lobbied as well as
of student life, given how close the school difference politically, a lack of resources testified before the House subcommittee
is to Washington, D.C. Students demonstrate often hinders their activities. This year, the for certain bills. That work has been really
their political involvement, in addition Young Democrats have not been active rewarding.”
to voting, by participating in political because they lack a staff sponsor. For McLean’s proximity to the nation’s
organizations and sharing their opinions. the same reason, the Young Republicans capital makes it possible for young adults
dissolved in 2021. Senior Jipson Zhang is in to participate in national politics. Last year,
Youth Involvement the process of founding a McLean chapter senior Eleanor Ague served as a Senate page
When voting is not an option, students of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) and worked at Capitol Hill for five months.
under 18 still make a difference politically. in place of the Young Republicans. YAF is “[My experience] completely shifted
McLean has several clubs that allow students a right-leaning youth activism group that the way that I view the legislative system,”
to be civically active. In the past, the Young Zhang hopes will give conservative students Ague said. “I have so much respect for our
Democrats and Young Republicans have an outlet to participate in politics. democratic process after that experience.”

22 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER 2023 Infographics & page design by Natalie Vu

 Currently, Ague volunteers to support
Suhas Subramanyam’s state senatorial
campaign. Her role in Subramanyam’s IF THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE NOT
campaign includes door-to-door canvassing.
In addition to working at the state and COMING OUT TO VOTE, ELECTIONS MAY NOT
national level, Ague and others directly affect TRULY BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WILL OF
the local community through positions in the
local government. Ague herself works on PEOPLE.”
the McLean Community Center Governing - JIPSON ZHANG
Board. SENIOR
“It can be easy to be pulled into the allure
of national politics, but I’ve come to find that
the politics that impact our day-to-day lives Are you eligible to vote in
are very local,” Ague said.
State and local government are an aspect
the 2024 election?
of the political process that people often
overlook. While Americans tend to focus
on national politics, it is the policies of local
governments that usually have the most direct
impact on their lives.
“People aren’t plugged into the fact that…
there are important state elections every two 24% - yes
years. This year is what we call the ‘off year’ 76% - N0
election, because there’s no federal race, and
there’s no governor’s race, just state and local
events,” said Rip Sullivan, the Virginia State
Delegate representing Fairfax and Arlington
County. “These races are not as sexy. They’re
[not occupying] a lot of airtime on television
or digital media.”
By population percentage, voter turnout
for state and local elections is significantly
lower than national elections. Out of 6.82
On a scale of 1-5, How politically
million eligible voters, only 43.9% (around informed do you consider yourself?
three million) Virginians voted in the 2022
Virginia general election. In comparison, 39.5%
the 2020 presidential election saw a record
154.6 million Americans, roughly 59% of
the eligible voter population, cast a ballot.
Voting is vital to the political process, and
not exercising the right to vote can have
unintended consequences.
“Voter turnout in the U.S. is probably 24.5%
one of the lowest in any Western democratic
country,” Zhang said. “If the majority of

43.9%
17%
12%
7%

Of Virginians voted
in the 2022 vA 1 2 3 4 5
general Election According to a poll of 200 McLean students

OCTOBER 2023 | IN-DEPTH | 23

 IT IS ALWAYS DISAPPOINTING TO ME WHEN I LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO VOTED
AND WHO DIDN’T, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 18 TO 30 WHO AREN’T VOTING
IN THE NUMBERS THEY SHOULD BE. I DON’T CARE WHO THEY VOTE FOR. OUR DEMOCRACY
IS AT A REAL STRESS POINT RIGHT NOW, AND THE CURE IS TO VOTE.”
- RIP SULLIVAN
Virginia State Delegate

Americans are not coming out to vote, they are still prominent in many right-wing students, 54% of the school’s eligible voters
elections may not truly be representative of political circles. do not know how to register to vote.
the will of people.” The saga of the 2016 and 2020 elections “It doesn’t matter what their political
People on both sides consider voting has left voters discouraged. More and orientation is, I encourage young people
a vital organ of the democratic process. more, eligible citizens feel their views are to vote,” Zhang said, “It’s whether we
Regardless of their differences, all political not represented adequately by the electoral are together as a people and whether our
parties derive most of their power from process. Still, everyone’s participation in government is truly our government [that
eligible citizens voting. politics by voting is considered essential by matters].”
“The idea of voting is people’s approval politicians and activists alike. Voter education is required by Fairfax
of the government,” Zhang said. “If people “It is the civic obligation of every citizen County Public Schools (FCPS). On Sept. 18,
do not vote, then is the government really to participate in the political process, and the Shaughnessy and AP Government teacher
legitimate?” most sacred way of participating is to vote,” Joshua Henry held a voter registration event
Many Americans, and young people in Sullivan said. “It is always disappointing to for students who will be eligible to vote
particular, have expressed deep distrust of me when I look at the demographics of who in the Virginia general election on Nov. 8.
the government and disillusionment with the voted and who didn’t, especially with young Henry, the voter registration coordinator
political process. The 2016 election resulted people aged 18 to 30 who aren’t voting in for McLean’s social studies department, has
in the inauguration of Trump, who won the numbers they should be. I don’t care made strides in improving awareness of
the electoral vote despite losing the popular who they vote for. Our democracy is at a voting.
vote. Four years later, the 2020 election was real stress point right now, and the cure is “By law, we are required to make sure that
surrounded by controversy related to the to vote.” students have the opportunity to register to
validity of Biden’s victory when Trump Even amidst political turmoil, voting has vote if they want to.” Henry said. “In years
claimed the election was fraudulent. These increased overall in the U.S. Yet, according past, we’ve brought organizations in to talk
claims are not backed by any evidence, but to a recently conducted poll of 200 McLean and we’ve had voter registration drives in
the cafeteria. Other years, especially during
COVID, we just posted information online
What political issues are most for students to use on their own.”
The extent to which teachers are allowed
important to McLean students? to intervene in youth politics is limited.
FCPS Regulation 4426.5 explicitly states
that during school hours, “[teachers] shall
66% Gun Control not attempt to indoctrinate students with
personal political and social philosophy.”
Additionally, teachers are not allowed to
63% Climate Change campaign for politicians. Outside of school,
however, teachers’ political opinions are
protected by the First Amendment. Still,
61% Abortion political discussions are bound to occur in
class, especially in social studies classes,
making teachers responsible for ensuring
53.5% Healthcare such conversations are productive.
“I’m a big believer that teachers’ political
points of view are not what’s important in
49.5% Education the discussion,” AP U.S. History teacher
Dylan Wedan said. “It’s not totally possible

24 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER 2023

 FAIRFAX COUNTY IS
A BUBBLE, WHICH
MAKES IT POLITICIZED
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
OUR SCHOOL BOARDS
AND POLICIES.”

- AIDAN SHAUGHNESSY
SENIOR

Preparing for the polls — During Highlander Time Flex on Sept. 19, senior
Aidan Shaughnessy led a presentation teaching eligible voters how to
register to vote. Shaughnessy’s session helped several seniors get ready
to cast their ballots in November.
to completely remove oneself [from the themselves as conservative. you’re wrong,’” Zhang said. “If I was given
discussion], but I always like to describe “Fairfax County is a bubble, which makes the opportunity, I would speak my mind,
issues from the perspective of both sides.” it politicized when we talk about our school but I will not actively spread what I think
Discussion of politics in school is a boards and policies, such as banned books because there’s a chance of being ostracized
contentious topic. Ignoring the benefits and LGBTQ topics,” Shaughnessy said. from the student body.”
or drawbacks, exposure to new ideas According to the survey, the top three Wedan sees this kind of self-censorship
through school discourse fundamentally issues most important to McLean students in his history classes.
forms students’ view of the world. Political are gun control, climate change and “Some students can feel some sense of
involvement through work in clubs and abortion. About two-thirds of students said unwillingness to speak up if they differ from
organizations, volunteering and even just gun control is one of their greatest concerns. the progressive perspective,” Wedan said. “I
talking to peers about their views plays an McLean’s liberalism, however, does not don’t see in class a lot of overt bullying. I’m
undeniable role in civic education. correspond to Virginia’s youth demographic. sure behind closed doors or online, that’s a
“We’re still learning about the world. As the Young Democrats vice president, different story. I mostly see people avoiding
We’ve been on Earth for 18 years; that’s not Shaughnessy noted the contrast between talking about minority perspectives.”
necessarily enough time to fully understand the political views of McLean students and Political pressure involves both sides
where we stand on certain issues,” Ague said. those of students in southern areas. of the political spectrum and affects civic
“A lot of people are echo chambers of their “For Virginia Young Democrats, one of discourse throughout the nation. The
family, which is inevitable. As you get older our main goals is to also reach rural Virginia, majority viewpoint of any given place is
and you go to college, you expose yourself and it’s crazy to see the stark difference in bound to dominate other ideologies.
to a wider range of views… I’m still coming viewpoints,” Shaughnessy said. “Students “It’s not only from the more progressive
into a lot of my views. My background in FCPS are generally left-leaning, but when side, which McLean embodies. A similar
contributes to a lot of the views I hold, but you go further down south, views definitely thing could happen from another direction
I’m still learning.” change.” as well,” Wedan said. “A hyper-conservative
At McLean, such a homogenous political environment could have similar pressure if
polItical state of environment pressures students to conform. you were a more progressive person in a
mclean high school Due to political pressure, conservative minority. So I think [political pressure] is a
McLean’s demographic leans staggeringly McLean students tend to avoid sharing their pretty common situation.”
left. According to a survey of 200 McLean political opinions. Among opinionated students like
students, 53.5% identify themselves as liberal “I try not to be combative. If someone Shaughnessy and Zhang, political topics
on the political spectrum, 35% consider says [something] that’s very left-leaning, I’m lead to heated debates, but not all of
themselves centrists and only 11.5% classify not going to be the first one to say, ‘I think McLean shares their fervor. Only 39.5%

Photo by Philip Rotondo OCTOBER 2023 | IN-DEPTH | 25

 How to register to vote
1. Obtain a registration application form online at
[Link]

2. research the candidates and specific policies to

determine who you will support. Make sure to use a
variety of credible sources.

3. Find a local polling place. Your closest location

can be found via the [Link] search tool.

4. Cast your ballot. polling can be done via paper

ballots or touch screen voting machines, depending
on your specific location.

of surveyed students said they consider

themselves adequately politically informed.
Students prepare to vote process of becoming an American citizen so
she can vote in the 2024 election. She also
“People don’t really talk about politics as McLean High School seniors have a plans to vote for Biden.
often as some might think; we’re all kinda variety of plans for their 2024 presidential “I agree with Biden’s COVID handling,
busy with our own stuff,” Zhang said. “But votes. The most popular candidate among as well as his focus on climate change,”
there’s a clear majority of liberal-leaning surveyed McLean students is incumbent Uttamchandani said. “In addition to these
students compared to conservatives.” Biden. policies, I also agree with Biden on social
Keeping up with American politics falls “I’m most likely going to be voting issues more than Trump.”
on the shoulders of the individual. While Biden again, just because…there’s potential A minority of McLean students, including
taking a government class is required for for more collaboration, potential for more Zhang, said they plan to vote Republican.
graduation in FCPS and gives students a structure and potential to actually get bills “I will probably vote for who the
basic education in civics, students still make passed, because he does have a pretty good Republican Party nominates. I think Nikki
efforts outside of school to understand legislative record,” Shaughnessy said. Haley is a good choice…because of her
current events. Senior Saira Uttamchandani is in the experience as a former UN Ambassador,”
“I started reading the news every day, and Zhang said. “[Maintaining U.S. relations
it’s been so impactful to my perception and with] Russia and Ukraine but also in Asia
my perspective on things outside of school,” and especially China requires finesse
Shaughnessy said. “I listen to bite-sized, PEOPLE DON’T REALLY with geopolitics. A person who is more
five-minute podcasts like The Seven by The experienced in that will probably serve the
Washington Post, The New York Times Daily, TALK ABOUT POLITICS AS country well for the next four years.”
The Economist and World News Daily every Former president Trump is currently
morning.”
OFTEN AS SOME MIGHT facing legal scrutiny for his role in the
Social media can also be a valuable THINK; WE’RE ALL BUSY Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Under the 14th
resource to engage in politics. Amendment, Trump would not be able to
“I think there are resources that we WITH OUR OWN STUFF.” run for office if he were found guilty of
sometimes can discredit as being not as insurrection.
valid, but…following the right accounts [on “If he gets out of this [lawsuit], people
social media] is really important,” Ague said. - JIPSON ZHANG can still vote for him. If the party nominates
“I’ve also turned to some more sources that SENIOR him, I guess I will still vote for him despite
are known for being nonpartisan like The the fact that I’m not that big of a Trump fan,”
Economist and The Wall Street Journal.” Zhang said. “His policies are fine and in line

26| IN-DEPTH |OCTOBER 2023

 Upcoming local Elections
OUR VIEWS ARE ONLY REFLECTED IF WE TAKE V irginia’s general and special elections
take place on Nov. 7. People will cast
their votes for positions in state and local
ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE offices. These elections will decide the
HAVE… IN A DEMOCRACY, WE NEED PEOPLE positions of Commonwealth’s Attorney,
House of Delegates member and Virginia
TO PARTICIPATE, AND VOTING IS ONE OF THE State Senator.
Low voter turnout is especially an issue
BEST WAYS TO PARTICIPATE.” in smaller-scale elections; less than half of
- JOSHUA HENRY registered voters in Virginia participated in
AP GOVERNMENT TEACHER state and local elections in 2022.
“[Voting] is the ultimate form of
participation, and so it saddens me
whenever I see that young people aren’t
turning out to vote in the numbers that I
think they should,” said Rip Sullivan, the
with what other Republican candidates may also have; however, his Virginia State Delegate representing Fairfax
rhetoric is a bit too divisive.” and Arlington Counties. “The upcoming
Senior Zoe Pagotto said she wants to vote for Republican Will election, next year’s election and every
Hurd, a moderate alternative to Trump. election after that will be about the world
“[Hurd is] the most sane guy running; I like his policies—his that you folks run.”
only red flag is him dodging the abortion question, but everyone County positions on the ballot include
does that anyway. I was reading on his campaign site and it was so the clerk of the court, county sheriff, school
good,” Pagotto said. board members, chairman of the Board of
Several eligible voters support particular campaigns solely Supervisors and other Board of Supervisors
because they view the candidate as a more viable option than their members. The outcomes of the November
opponents, rather than endorsing the candidate themself. election will have real policy consequences
“I don’t respect the Democratic Party, as they have been on a variety of areas of local life.
extremely ineffective and seem to hate the poor almost as much “I think a lot of times younger voters
as the Republicans,” senior Timo Brown said. “[However], another don’t realize the extent to which local
Democratic president would at least slow down the decline of the issues and state issues affect their lives,” AP
country as opposed to a Republican, either Trump or DeSantis, Government teacher Joshua Henry said.
who would both be disasters for America.” “The reality is that [local issues] can have a
Senior Megan Wright is similarly concerned with preventing a big impact on somebody.”
Republican candidate from entering office, and therefore intends
to vote for Biden.
“I fear that electing a Republican president [would result in]
policies I would never dream of supporting,” Wright said. “I’m
A complete list of local
unfortunately voting more against Republicans than I am voting for election candidates can
someone I like and support.” be accessed by scanning
A few McLean students said they plan to vote for less
mainstream candidates. Max DiPatri, a senior who considers the following QR code:
himself a “moderate anarchist-socialist,” plans to vote for
Democrat Marianne Williamson.
“[Williamson] seems to be a pretty typical American liberal with
a good emphasis on education and oppressed people’s justice,”
DiPatri said.
With the scattered state of the nation’s political opinions and
views, McLean students, alongside the rest of the U.S., can only cast
ballots, cross fingers and anticipate November 2024.
“What issues are [people] going to care about? What issues
are they going to support? What type of government are we
going to have? Our views are only reflected if we take advantage
of the opportunities we have,” Henry said. “In a democracy, we
need people to participate, and voting is one of the best ways to
participate.”

OCTOBER 2023 | IN-DEPTH | 27