By: Rosie Brown

Some students will be eligible to vote for the 45th president

In November 2016 United States citizens will be voting for a new president.

The majority of teens enrolled in high school are not old enough to vote, yet are still interested in the direction our country is headed. However, one student is interested in the upcoming election and is eligible to vote.

“My eighteenth birthday is actually in October, so yes, I’ll be able to vote,” junior Mosi Moore said.

Since the primary elections have not taken place, the final candidates are not yet known.

“I don’t really know who the candidates are so far, but I side more with the Republican party,” Moore said.

Moore describes himself as siding more with the Republican party philosophy.

“I side more with the Republican party because there are issues with the Democratic party like Obama Care and I don’t think it’s working as well as they thought it would,” Moore said.

The new President will have to pick up where President Barack Obama left off and address issues concerning the direction of the country and dealing with the rest of the world.

“The President should address international issues first, like the Middle East and talks with Russia,” Moore said.

It is possible, based on the candidates so far, that one of them may be a female.

“I don’t have much of an issue with a female president,” Moore said. “I mean, we have a black president now. I don’t think the country is ready for a female president yet, but maybe in the future.”

Moore was unable to vote during the New Albany and Floyd County election, November 3. Although the presidential election is important in determining the fate of the country as a whole, local elections have more of an immediate impact, especially in a smaller city like New Albany.

“Local elections are the most important because we always hear from the electoral college and politicians but it’s nice to know what the people think,” Moore said.

While most people agree that voting is an important citizen’s right, unfortunately, especially at the local level, voter turnout is low. Of 28,660 registered voters in Floyd County, only 7,149 turned out to vote—less than 25%—according to an election summary report provided by the Floyd County Clerk for the November 2015 election.

If you are a citizen of the United States and will be 18 on the day of the next election, you can exercise your right to vote by registering. Visit www.floydcounty.in.gov/resident/voterregistration.htm to register online or find where to register.