Lake Forest High School seniors are heading to the polls for the first time with worries that stretch well beyond their hallways.
With early voting underway in Lake County and Election Day set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, students at LFHS told the school's newspaper, The Forest Scout, that government polarization, Illinois' debt and climate change rank among the issues pushing them to cast first ballots. The article, written by student reporter Rex Morrison, featured three students by name.
Senior Bain Flavin told The Forest Scout that cases of government officials overstepping constitutional limits are driving him to vote. He said the government has become "extremely divisive and honestly corrupt" and that he worries the midterms will deepen that divide. Flavin also said he sees progressive candidates running against conservatives rather than offering their own agenda.
Senior Maggie Corbett said she is most concerned with Illinois' debt and its school systems. She acknowledged that Lake Forest families can afford higher taxes but said not everyone in the state can.
"I honestly don't know if JB [Pritzker] or Darren Bailey [is] able to fix that in the next four years," Corbett told The Forest Scout, referring to the governor's race between incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey.
Corbett's concern has a factual backdrop. Illinois' credit rating sits at A1, the state's highest level in about 15 years after Moody's Ratings upgraded it in August from A2, according to Bond Buyer. Moody's cited improved financial metrics and eight consecutive balanced budgets. Illinois still carries the lowest credit rating of any state government.
Junior Noa Burke told The Forest Scout she would like to see the government address inequality and climate change. Burke said politicians too often put personal gain ahead of the people they represent.
The Forest Scout also quoted AP Government teacher Mrs. Kyrias, who connected rising interest in democratic socialist candidates to voter concerns about affordability.
The Nov. 3 midterm ballot in Lake Forest includes the governor's race, a U.S. Senate contest between Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy, and a Lake County referendum on a 1% sales tax to fund school facility improvements, according to Patch. The 10th Congressional District race features incumbent Democrat Brad Schneider against Republican Carl Lambrecht.
Polls on Election Day open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Early voting locations in Lake County are already accepting ballots.
