Today’s election is extra special for many seniors at Moorestown Friends School since it’s the first time they will be able to head to the polls and vote for the state’s next governor. Democrat Governor Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli will face off in the polls to be the governor of New Jersey.

Senior Colin Cooper turned eighteen last May, and shared, “I am planning on voting. I am rather excited.This is the first time I will be able to express a right to vote, and I am very much looking forward to participating in our democracy.”

Similarly, Nia Hipps ’22 was also proud to exercise her new right. Hipps said, “I am very excited to put in my first vote, and I will be the first one at the ballots for the upcoming election.”

Ava Carlson ‘22 will also join Hipps and Cooper at the polls. As a newly eligible voter, she expressed, “I think that it is really cool because this is the first time that I can vote. I am excited to participate in the democratic process.” 

For some seniors, this election has served as a reminder to register to vote. Although senior Turner Jobes was eligible to vote, he admitted, “I still need to register to vote.” Jobes missed the deadline to register to vote as it is required to be registered 21 days before an election. Jobes continued by saying that this gubernatorial election has inspired him to register sooner for the next election.

On the other hand, most seniors were not yet eligible to vote. Many of these ineligible voters were jealous of their peers who are eighteen years old. Morgan Stepanski ’22 explained that she missed the cut-off to vote by only eight days. “I am upset that I cannot vote, because I feel that it is important to vote,” explained Stepanski.

In a similar position as Stepanski, senior Roma Jha missed the cut-off to vote by only a few days. Jha shared her frustration: “I was told when I was younger that ‘your birthday is so close to election day,’ but it is actually right afterwards. And [when I was younger] I didn’t get why that was such a big deal, but now since I am super invested in current events and voting, it’s really frustrating [to not yet be eligible to vote] and I am really annoyed.” However, looking on the positive side, Jha said, “I am glad that at least I’ll be able to vote in the presidential election when it comes up.”