Vista Grande students create mock election
Teens from region invited to cast votes for national and local races
With the presidential election less than a month away, many are scrambling to vote either by absentee ballot or early voting. And on Nov. 3, many will be standing in lines to cast their vote for the next president of the United States, and for other local seats.
But voting has long been reserved for those 18 years of age or older.
However, many believe that the younger generation (18 and younger) is more well-informed than ever before and, even if they can’t necessarily vote, the opinions of those youth are just as important as anyone else.
Kristyna Martinez-Vigil, a Vista Grande High School senior, with the help of freshman Haleigh Concha, have put together a mock 2020 election for students in Taos. Both students are members of the youth council at VGHS.
Martinez-Vigil said that she thought putting this election together would be a good idea, mostly because voting is something she wanted to do this year but can’t. She turns 18 the day after Election Day.
“I wanted to vote this year and
I can’t,” Martinez-Vigil said. “This election is very important and I wanted to give teens a chance to be heard and voice their opinions on this election.”
Martinez-Vigil said she came across the idea while in her youth council course after it was brought up by Amanda Flores, an educator at the school.
Martinez-Vigil hit the ground running with this idea in another course, a leadership program, led by Corbett Wicks, who has been helping Martinez-Vigil along the way
Wicks said that the class usually entails a yearlong project that helps students “articulate their beliefs” and become an “active citizen of the world.”
The youth election itself works a lot like a normal election – from the voter registration to the voting itself. In fact, during the registration teens (it’s open from students in Taos ages 12-17) can choose a political party, while making sure they give their full name and email. Registration is live now, and ends on Oct. 16, Martinez-Vigil said.
And when it comes time to vote – voting ends Oct. 23 – students can vote for either Joe Biden or Donald Trump for president; Mark
Ronchetti (Republican), Ben Ray Luján (Democrat) and Bob Walsh (Libertarian) for Senate; and for local Senate seat in District 42 between Linda Calhoun (Republican) and Kristina Ortez (Democrat).
The goal is to have votes counted by the end of October, so that come Election Day (Nov. 3) students in Taos will be able to see which candidates are favored across the board, Wicks said.
Climate change, immigration, LGBTQ rights and the novel coronavirus response are big political issues that Martinez-Vigil has opinions on, and she wants someone in office who will “make good choices – better choices – and to think about how their decisions will affect everyone.”
Martinez-Vigil, 17, said she believes that teens around her age know what it as stake now and in the future when it comes to their livelihood, and by participating in this election students become more informed at a much younger age.
“It’s important because I’m sure we are all worried about our future and what is going to happen – and I’m sure other teens agree,” Martinez-Vigil said.
Find links to the election survey and information on how to vote at