Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school and college students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Ask a Bay Area teenager whether or not they plan to vote once they’re 18, and the answer is almost always yes.
In a recent random survey and interviews with 20 students across 15 high schools in Northern California, 80% said they intend to vote, while 6% were undecided.
Nationally, the numbers paint a similar picture. A recent Tufts University poll found that 56% of young people say they’re “extremely likely” to vote. Only 13% said they were unlikely to show up at the polls.
While every Bay Area student surveyed said that their political opinions are most influenced by their family or friends and that they’re confident in what they hear about political issues, they admit to having trouble filtering information.
As the November elections approach, many first-time voters say they are planning to vote in a system they don’t even know if they trust.
This skepticism, too, is reflected in national polls. A Harvard Youth Poll reported that just 33% of young Americans believe that the 2026 elections will be conducted fairly, while 43% do not, and 21% remain unsure.
“Often, politicians speak just to tarnish their opposition’s image, without solid proof,” said Zafir Rahman, 16, a student at Foothill High School in Pleasanton. “I would not trust anything directly claimed from one politician about another, and I also would not trust an external source funded or influenced by them.”
Zafir Rahman, 16, from Pleasanton, California poses for a photograph at his home on Monday, Sept. 20, 2026. He is voting for the first time in the 2028 presidential elections. (Anya Joseph/Mosaic)
Rahman is not alone in his distrust. Rohan Arun, 16, also from Foothill High, puts it more bluntly: “News isn’t news. It’s just a means to spread an agenda,” he said.
For Raylen Chacko, a student at Monte Vista High School in Danville, misinformation breeds polarization. “This polarization has become so prevalent to the point that I know people who’ve switched out of classes at school just because their teacher is a Republican,” she said.
Now, as artificial intelligence spreads, it is adding more fuel for distrust, according to local high schoolers. In fact, a broader Yale poll found that the biggest fears among voters in general about AI in politics involve the risk of misinformation and the concern that people would lean on AI rather than their own intuition when making voting decisions.
For most students, the workaround isn’t some magical trick – it’s just using multiple sources. Arun checks GroundNews, an app that rates how politically slanted an article is, before deciding whether to trust.
Others diversify instead: One student said he reads CNBC, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times side by side to catch the same story from different angles. Some students settle on a single outlet they trust and use social media only for double checking.
At the same time, some students voice a common concern about the importance of a single vote — they are unconvinced that their vote even will matter.
However, while some first-time voters may be skeptical, the vast majority said they will cast their ballots. Some are especially enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate in democracy.
“I think voting is very important, especially as a young woman, because women fought for the right to vote, so it is something that we shouldn’t be taking for granted. Our voices are important, and this country is a democracy, and everyone should be heard,” said Mary Murikken, a 16 year-old student at Cosumnes High School in Elk Grove.
“While I believe there are many ways to create change, voting is the only one that is accessible and equally impactful for everyone,” Rahman said.
Arun agreed with the sentiment. “Each vote and each opinion spread has a compounding effect, and together great change can be made,” he said.
Anya Joseph is a member of the class of 2028 at Foothill High School in Pleasanton.