Tuesday, November 8, 2022 will be Indiana’s general election.

It’s easy as teenagers to get caught up in the niceties of life. But, if you have ever complained about something in your school, your neighborhood, your city, or your state, it’s important to recognize that you have a responsibility to vote and get that something changed; not only in federal elections but also in local elections

It’s also extremely easy to believe that one vote– your vote– will not make a difference in the grand scheme of things. However, this is not true. For example, in 2017, a Virginia House of Delegates race ended in an exact tie. A name ended up being pulled out of a bowl to decide who would win the position. Just one more person voting could have made that entire difference. If you aren’t confident that your vote will count, take a look at this article. 

I was lucky enough to speak to one of the candidates in this upcoming election, Heidi Beidinger, about the importance of voting: “My name is Heidi Beidinger and I am running for Indiana House District 5 because of the extremism in our state, in particular, the loss of bodily autonomy goes against Hoosier values! I’m running to fight for the freedom to have access to high-quality public education, clean water, and air and of course, the freedom to make the most personal decision to choose when and how to have children. 

Voting is our most important political right. It’s also a right that was hard-fought. Unfortunately, voting turnout is far too low in St Joe County. We need everyone to be a voter! Together, we can vote the extremists out of office, choose a better path for all Hoosiers and restore our Democracy.”

If you feel lost as to where to start when it comes to voting in local elections: here is your step-by-step guide. 

1st: Register to vote
It may seem obvious at first glance that you must register to vote before heading to the polls, but seventeen comes and goes so fast that once you turn eighteen, you might forget that you have the power to elect government officials. Although turning eighteen may not seem like that big of a milestone, the right to vote is an amazing privilege to have.

To check to see if you are registered to vote, click this link and fill out the form to get a definite answer.

If you are not registered to vote, click this link to fill out some simple forms to get yourself registered. If you need assistance registering or have any questions, email elizabeth86460@students.sbcsc.k12.in.us.

2nd: Find what district you are in

When it comes to presidential elections, it isn’t difficult to find out who will be on your ballot, but local elections can get a bit trickier. For example, Adams High School is in District 6 but if you go just slightly north, you will find yourself in District 8. Districts are important to know, because this will be how you find out who is running for Indiana state representative and senate for your specific area.

To find your district, click this link and locate your home on the map.

3rd: Locate the polling location nearest to you. 

There are plenty of polling locations all over Indiana. Even within a mile radius of Adams there are four different polling locations: McKinley Primary, Thomas Edison Intermediate, Rise Up Academy, and John Adams High School itself! Locate the one that is most convenient to you, so you can plan to go there when you get free time during the day. 

4th: Know who you’re voting for

Local elections can get confusing. With so many different people running for different positions, it’s difficult to research who is running for what, and what kind of values they have. If you feel very strongly about either the Democratic or Republican parties, you can also vote solely based on that. However, if you do have the time, it can be very interesting and educational to research the local candidates in your area.

Here is a comprehensive list of candidates running in the St. Joseph County area. It may seem extremely intimidating at first– it is a very long list of candidates– but once you find your district, search to see the candidates running in that area. However, the first page does apply to all counties!!

Be sure to check out those candidates in addition to the ones running in your district. 

Finally: Go vote!

Now that you are registered and prepared, you can go vote! Elections are Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Go to your local polling that day and give your input to the government!