By Ada Kessler

How Kamala Harris became the Democratic Candidate 

The June 27th debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump sowed many worries into the minds of American citizens. The candidates both seemed incoherent and off-topic a lot of the time, Biden especially. This poor performance combined with the sympathy Trump garnered from multiple sides following an assassination attempt on him at one of his rallies, things were looking bleak for Biden’s reelection campaign. So, on July 21st, Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race with his Vice President, Kamala Harris, taking over as the Democratic candidate. Harris and Trump are now neck and neck in national polls, with Harris holding a slight lead. The upcoming election is anyone’s game, so it is crucial for voters everywhere to get their voice heard on Election Day and some of those voters attend McCaskey.

What are the Policy Differences between Harris and Trump?

If you’re one of these first-time voters, you may not know much about the main candidates’ policies as the media tends to not focus on them. So, here’s a bit of background on the major candidates’ stances on key issues in America according to BBC’s article, “What are Harris and Trump’s Policies?” 

To begin, former President Trump has said he plans to lower inflation rates, implement tax cuts that mostly aid the wealthy, and decrease gang violence and drug cartels though it is unclear how he plans to do so. Trump also has said he’ll go through with the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in United States history and that he will pull United States Troops from foreign conflicts. 

On the other hand, Vice President Harris plans to reduce housing and food costs, especially for working families, and raise taxes for businesses or individuals making over $400,000 a year. She instead emphasizes her experience as a prosecutor and calls out her opponent for being a convicted felon. 

In her role as Vice President, Harris helped raise billions of dollars in funding for investments to aid the southern border crisis, helped cap the price of insulin at $35, and raised billions of dollars for renewable energy despiste her recent support of fracking. She is strongly against banning abortion, has vowed to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, and supports a two-state solution as a means to end the war in Gaza.

This overview won’t give you all the information on each candidate’s policies, but you can read more about Trump’s policies here and Harris’s policies here. There are also third-party candidates, if neither Trump nor Harris sounds promising. The other candidates left in the race are Jill Stein, Cornel West, and Chase Oliver. 

Pennsylvania’s Importance in Presidential Elections

Voting may seem scary or even silly to new voters. Many people believe their vote doesn’t matter, but it does. Especially in Pennsylvania. You may have noticed that the Presidential candidates have been heavily campaigning all over Pennsylvania recently. In fact, The New York Times has called Pennsylvania the “Most Consequential Battleground State” in a recent article.

This is because Pennsylvania is a swing state, meaning its electorate is not dominated by Democrats or Republicans; both major parties typically have a shot at winning in Pennsylvania. It also holds 19 electoral college votes, which is a hefty amount, tied for the fifth most electoral votes with Illinois. It is a reasonable assumption that whoever wins Pennsylvania will win the election, which has been true for the past two election cycles, if not longer. This makes your vote as a Pennsylvania citizen extremely important to the outcome of this election.

How to Register to Vote

The election takes place on November 5th and the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 21st. If you are not yet registered you may do so online. Instructions for voter registration can be found here. 

How to Cast a Mail-in Ballot 

You may send a mail-in vote as opposed to voting in person, but you will have to apply to be able to do so. The request will be due October 29th to your county’s election office. If you plan to do a mail-in vote, there is more information here. 

How to Vote In-person

If you will be voting in person, this process will be different. You’ll go to your polling place on November 5th and complete a ballot there. If you don’t know where your polling place is, you can find out here. Additionally, you can find sample ballots here to get an idea of what they will look like on Election Day. If you have any questions about accessibility, language barriers, etc. you may find answers here or at your local election office.

Making a Plan to Vote on Election Day 

Voting can be intimidating, especially for first time voters, but this year it will be crucial to participate. If you’re feeling nervous about all the steps involved in voting, you can turn to a parent, guardian, teacher, or other trusted adult for support. 

In the coming weeks, take some time to make a plan for Election Day, including completing registration, verifying your polling location, clearing your schedule after school on November 5, and most importantly researching carefully who you’re voting for and why. McCaskey: ensure that your voice gets heard this Election Day!