On November 5th, 2024, students all around Lexington Richland District 5 had a day off from school as a result of this year’s Election Day between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. In the voting, former president Donald Trump is now the president elect, securing 295 electoral college votes.

Prior to the election the rhetoric of the two candidates had risen to a great extent over the past month as both Trump and Harris spent their time and money trying to use social media as their way of persuading voters to vote for  them.

Social Media: TikTok

Both candidates running for officed attempted to spread the  benefits of their political party, Republican or Democratic, through  TikTok. They have both tried to gain TikTok users attention to the election.

The use of social media to spread campaign advertisements was used to encourage young adults to vote.  In addition both candidates Trump and Harris made appearances on popular TV shows and podcasts. Donald Trump appeared on Joe Rogan’s Podcast and Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live.

We Ask You!!

We asked several students at Chapin who looked at videos from the various candidates on TikTok and if it was effective.

“Yeah I’ve seen the TikTok’s videos before, its kind of funny though, so like I guess I sort’ve understand how it could influence their votes,” said Mia Krats a junior at Chapin.

We also asked them whether the information was funny, informative, beneficial, or even unhelpful for the campaign. Several of those students shared their voting experiences.

“It was fine, it took like maybe 5 minutes,” said Cooper Canady, a senior at Chapin High. “I mean it definitely felt weird though, because like you know, I’ve never voted before.”

” Well, I voted early so it was quick and easy,” said Wyatt Zeck a senior, our senior secretary, at Chapin. “I would rate it an 8 out of 10.”

“I voted early it was quick and easy, I was in and out!” said Leila Lindler, a senior at Chapin.