Today is Election Day across the United States. In Arizona, there are many local (city- and county-level) issues on the ballot. In many jurisdictions, voters will decide on public school issues, including funding for capital projects like rebuilding aging infrastructure and replacing failing air conditioning units. If you’re not an educator or a student’s guardian, these education bonds and other issues may not seem like they impact you. However, public education has a bigger impact on the community than you might think.
Don’t take our word for it…. High school students from Read Better Be Better’s Youth Leadership Council sat down with us to share their thoughts on Arizona’s 2025 election. Read what they had to say below.
Why is it important to exercise your right to vote?
“I think the right to vote is important because you make yourself and others heard.” – Vianey, 12th grade, Phoenix Coding Academy
“If you have the ability to vote, you most definitely should take advantage of that opportunity because not everybody gets to.” – Carina, 11th grade, Maryvale High School
Why are local elections important, even when there are no large, hot-topic, state or federal issues or candidates on the ballot?
“We need to give our smaller problems a chance to get solved, so that when the bigger ones come along, we’ll be ready for those.” – Isaiah, 11th grade, Phoenix College Preparatory Academy
“I feel like since we’re such a big country, each local area has its own culture and stories and ways of running. These elections give each community a voice. It’s important because those local communities are also our homes.” – Vianey, 12th
“Local elections affect things that happen within communities. It’s important to know what’s going on in your community and what you want to happen there.” – Carina, 11th
What do you want eligible voters to know about what it’s like to be a student in Arizona right now?
“I want them to know more of what’s happening in the schools and what schools need, in order to make their decisions on what to vote for. In the Maryvale community, we have a lot of substitutes because we have a lack of teachers. We have people in public high schools that don’t read very well. We could vote for more resources to help them out, for more people to see them and know them.
A lot of students don’t feel like they have much say when it comes to their education. Having the opportunity to have a voice or a say in what happens in students’ education is so impactful.” – Carina, 11th
To make your vote count in Arizona, vote in person or by dropping off your ballot today before 7:00 PM. You can find more information specific to your voting jurisdiction here.
Read Better Be Better’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is in its inaugural year. The YLC cohort offers an advisory role for high school students who have participated in Read Better Be Better’s Pathway to Civic Leadership program and applied to continue their advocacy pathway with YLC. YLC students serve in their role for one academic year and engage in cohort-based learning, attend civic events including school board meetings, and advocate for educational solutions important to their communities.