On the Front Lines: How Peddie Students Prepared for the 2024 Election
As the 2024 Presidential Election approached, Peddie students took the lead, diving deep into the policies of both candidates and educating their peers on the decision that American voters faced this year.
In a series of policy and topical presentations given to students and faculty, members of Peddie’s AP US Government and Politics classes covered subjects including voting rights, U.S. foreign policy, economic policy, criminal justice reform, the rise of AI, environmental policy and the electoral college. The presentations were brief overviews designed to inform listeners of all ages and backgrounds and provide them with brief but comprehensive overviews of the issues and both candidates’ positions on each.
“It’s very clearly part of our mission,” said History Department Chair Alison Hogarth. “We are encouraging students to aim for the highest quality of citizenship. Helping students understand some of the specific ways that they can engage during a political season is, to me, really important.”
While most of Peddie’s students are below the age of voting eligibility, they still engaged with the electoral process by reminding Peddie employees of their rights and encouraging them to take advantage of mail-in and early voting options. Some students participated in Get Out The Vote by helping their eligible peers register to vote and develop their voting plan, either by making their way to the polls on Election Day or mailing in their ballot from out-of-state.
“Activities like these, some of which are centered on campus and some of which are off-campus, help them understand that this isn’t just us in a bubble here,” Hogarth said. “There are real-world implications for what we do. Young people need to see these activities; they need to engage with them, demystify them for themselves and their peers and understand better how processes work so they’re more interested in engaging politically even at a young age.”
Some Peddie students spent their summer and fall cold-calling undecided voters or going door-to-door in support of congressional candidates they supported. One student volunteered to create social media content for New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim. “My fellowship with the Andy Kim for Senate campaign went beyond just phone calls and door knocks,” said Aakarsh Mamawala ’25. “It helped me build relationships, have conversations with people of all viewpoints and learn more about important issues I’ll have to cover in college and beyond.”
Still others worked at the polls on Election Day, taking on training sessions, tax forms and 5 a.m. shifts to help people in their community cast their vote. They even found their individual skills coming in handy. One used ASL to communicate with a Deaf voter. Another deployed their technical acumen to repair an ailing printer at their polling station.
“Overall, I would say working at the polls on Election Day was a fantastic experience because I got to see firsthand how democracy in the United States works,” said Lexie Loughran ’25. “This is an experience that I likely would not have had if it weren’t for my AP Gov class, but I am so glad that I did it because I was able to learn so much and get to know many new people.”
Their efforts culminated in a mock Election where the entire Peddie community, students and employees alike, made their vote count.
“It inspired the curiosity, confidence and enthusiasm for learning that are central to our educational community,” said History Teacher Benjamin Bickford. “Many students remarked on the satisfaction and personal growth they felt, and the pride in their efforts. It was a moment of Peddie at its best.”