“Who are you voting for?”

This is a question that many students have been asked for the past month or so, due to the upcoming presidential election on Nov. 6.

But the fact of the matter is, most students at AHS are too young to vote. Does this mean that every disappointed 14 -17 year old sits back in submission, indifferent as to who will be running the country for the next four years? At AHS, that is not the case.

Senior Amory Fischer is very involved with liberal politics. He explained, “I am the Student Democratic Canvassing Organizer on the West Rio Team at the Greenbrier Office. I coordinate canvassing (going door to door) trips, help new canvassers out, and also go canvassing myself.”

Fischer is only 17, and much to his frustration, cannot vote in the upcoming election. “I wish I could vote, and that is what I tell people who are thinking of not voting- “I am out here working to make sure you use your right to vote, because I cannot yet use that right.”

Fischer said that, on average, every 12 people talked to is one more definite vote for whatever candidate is being canvassed. Fischer also explained that his work is “counteracting the negative ads on TV.”

Senior Madeline Marshall-Roth also expresses her disappointment about her age. “I understand that there has to be a cutoff age for voting, and 18 is probably the best solution. That being said, it is pretty painful being 17 for a presidential election, especially this one because a big part of our future will be determined by the outcome of this election and we do not have a say in it.”

Despite not being able to vote, students are also attending political rallies in order to be more informed of the process. Senior Tara Skeen “went to South Carolina during the Primaries with a group of college kids and my uncle, who is a close friend of Mitt’s, and attended events there and went door to door taking surveys.”

Skeen has been making phone calls at the Republican Headquarters, and has gone door to door in Charlottesville. She said, “I think I’ll be able to help inform others of the issues that are important in this election, and help people learn about who Mitt Romney is and what his political views are and what his character is. I think I can also help encourage others to get more involved in political affairs and be informed.”

Senior Shira Goldeen has the same frustrations as the other students. “I can’t vote because I’m not 18, and I find that majorly annoying.” And although Goldeen can’t vote, she tries to encourage students that can. “I am spreading the good word (cue religious joke).” she quipped.

Goldeen volunteers at the democratic political office when she can, helping with canvassing and phone banking by calling people’s houses to get information about voting. Goldeen believes that through her volunteer work she can make a difference, “by getting people that can vote to vote.”

Junior Emily Edwards attended Obama’s political rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 29. “I’ve never been to anything like that before,” she said. “My mom surprised me with the tickets because she knew I really wanted to go. He’s kind of an idol to me.”

Teachers are also getting involved in this year’s campaign, mostly by guiding students to learn more about the election process.

AP Government teacher Julie Strong works with the non-partisan Youth Leadership initiative program (YLI) at UVA.  “Because YLI is non partisan, it provides an opportunity to talk about political issues in a safe environment, where people can have political discussions with people who may or may not agree with them.”  Strong said.

Strong explained that AHS will have a mock election in the Media Center on Oct. 29-30. The senior government students will be campaigning for the candidates of their choice, as the underclassmen vote through their history classes.

There will be a YLI club, involving students in both parties. Strong advises students to be involved with politics. “I would encourage any student to get involved with candidates or issues they believe in,” Strong said. “The most important thing is to get involved.”

Some students at AHS support those who are involved in politics, but are uninterested in campaigning or spreading the word. Senior HeeSeok Joo said, “I cannot vote because I am not a citizen. I don’t really pay attention to politics a lot, but I support whoever supports good immigration, education, and science policies.”

Senior Andrew Horbaly said, “I am not necessarily helping or assisting the presidential campaign, but I am a very big advocate for expressing opinion in an intellectual debate.” Horbaly believes that high school students should “plant seeds of ideologies to at the very least, educate our fellow classmates so that they have the means to express their own political opinions.”

Horbaly is discouraged that politics are not taken as seriously in high school years, and bears in mind that very soon “we will not only be 18 and registered voters, but we will also begin our lives on our own where the choices we make will decide the future and prosperity of both our own lives and the nation as a whole.

Students and faculty from AHS will continue to involve themselves in the presidential election, as Nov. 6 draws nearer. Many students may not be able to vote, but they will work zealously on behalf on their candidate’s campaign.