While young voters will play an essential role in deciding the upcoming 2024 presidential election, especially in battleground states, a local teen in Belmont—who isn’t yet old enough to cast a ballot—will be making a different kind of impact.
Although he’s only 16, Rohan Licht plans to volunteer at a town polling station next month to help others perform their civic duty.
“I’ve always been interested in politics … and voting systems,” said the junior, who is volunteering as part of Belmont High School’s community service requirement.
He said he was elated to learn that, despite his age, he could participate in the election by helping voters and also get a “closer look at how the whole [process] works.”
Licht already has some experience working on the front lines at the polls after helping during the state primary. He joined two other workers as they greeted voters, found their names, checked them in, gave them a ballot and assisted in other ways.
“I felt pretty proud to be that closely involved in the process,” he said.
Looking ahead, Licht anticipates the Nov. 5 election will be far busier than the state primary.
“It’s going to be constant action,” he said. “It’s very important that things go smoothly.”
After receiving training before the primary and the upcoming election, Licht said he’s learned a lot about how local government ensures Belmont residents have safe and secure polling locations. He was particularly impressed by the technology and security measures in place.
“They test the ballot machines, and … nobody can tamper with them,” said Licht. “It makes it feel very secure.”
While the showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is the main event for many voters, Licht said some of his peers may focus on ballot Question 2. If it passes, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) will be eliminated as a requirement to graduate from high school.
While some residents might “think their vote doesn’t matter” because Massachusetts isn’t a swing state in the presidential election, Licht said “people have fairly strong opinions” on the MCAS, which may bring out younger voters, even if they’ve already taken the test.
Licht learned about civics in eighth grade and said that to prepare the next generation for doing their civic duty, a high school elective focused on voting would be useful for students to understand and become more comfortable with the process.
Discussing the ballot questions and other complex political issues with friends and fellow residents, Licht advised that it’s best to “make sure you’re only ever talking about the issue,” not a person’s character. For the most part, he said, in Belmont, people are willing to have peaceful conversations and debates about controversial topics without descending into personal attacks.
Looking to the future, Licht said, “It’s going to feel pretty good when I can vote for the first time … it’s going to feel much more like a rite of passage.”
For more information on voting in the upcoming presidential election in Belmont, including a map of the eight town precincts, visit https://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/elections-general-information-voter-registration
Key Belmont Voting Information
Deadline to register: Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.
Deadline to request an early vote-by-mail or absentee ballot: Oct. 29
Early Voting in-person at Town Hall only: Until Nov. 1
Deadline to mail ballots from inside the U.S.: Postmarked by Nov. 5, received by Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
Deadline to mail ballots from outside the U.S.: Postmarked by Nov. 5, received by Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
Early Voting Times at Belmont Town Hall
Friday, Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to noon.
Where to Vote Nov. 5
Precinct 1, Beth El Temple Center, Zonis Auditorium, 2 Concord Ave. (Enter from Blanchard Road)
Precinct 2, Belmont Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave.
Precinct 3, Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
Precinct 4, Butler School gym, 90 White St.
Precinct 5, Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
Precinct 6, Fire Headquarters, 200 Trapelo Road.
Precinct 7, Burbank School gym, 266 School St.
Precinct 8, Winn Brook School gym, 97 Waterhouse Road (Enter at Cross Street)
Information from the Belmont Town Clerk’s Office
