HAMBURG, N.Y. — Tuesday is Election Day. With this contentious election season just about wrapped up, Spectrum News 1 spoke with some high schoolers to get their take on the electoral process.

What You Need To Know

  • Students wish elected officials would talk in circles less and give a direct path forward 

  • They feel pressure to help change the direction the U.S. is going 

  • They ask voters to educate themselves before casting a ballot 

Six local high school seniors say their AP government class has taught them a lot. 

“So far, we've been learning about the relationship between state and federal governments and then the applications of federalism in modern politics,” said Anthony Lapagoia, a senior at Frontier Central High School.

“It lets you see the inner workings of how checks and balances work, even though we've all known how it works,” said Madalyn Shea, another senior.

It's a deeper understanding of the divisive, chaotic world surrounding them. And if you think they aren’t paying attention, think again.

“I feel like even watching the debates, like a lot of it, was kind of just talking in circles,” said senior Isabella Beutler.

“These politicians are too caught up in dogma and political ideology to realize that they need to contextualize their beliefs for what the country needs moving forward,” Lapagoia added.

“As sort of history is showing, people are really just not starting to care exactly what the candidates are talking about,” said senior Joey Fasciana. “They care about the policy they want to keep, they want their party to win. But the thing is, they don't understand what they're winning. It's a prize they don't understand.”

“Just the way that everyone finds a way to hate each other, like, it's just there's so much hatred in the world and it can it can lead to self-destruction at some point in time,” Shea noted.

A number of the students feel it's on them to make a change.

“I feel like it's so important that we do, though,” Beutler said. “Like, even if it's difficult, I feel like it's important that we use our voices, even if we can't vote now.”

“It's becoming exceptionally clear that older generations don't have much interest in fixing these problems. And we need to set an example for the generations that follow us," Lapagoia said. 

“People like us have to speak up and try to make a difference in any way we can,” said senior Alec Forth. "Otherwise, we'll just keep going in circles.”

And they’re tired of seeing the circles, and they can’t fix them right now. But they ask anyone able to cast a ballot to fix it.

“Just stick to what you believe, and then definitely do research,” Forth suggested.

“I will say about when you're doing your research, don't take everything at exact face value,” said senior Jacob MacPherson.

“Both candidates have their pros and cons, but think what pros outweigh the cons because nothing is going to be perfect,” Fasciana said. “Think beyond the immediate.”

The students added that, of the things they'd change if they could, they would include climate change, wanting people to have more empathy for others who are less fortunate, first amendment rights, consumerism and foreign policy.