Posted at: 09/27/2012 5:50 PM
Updated at: 09/27/2012 7:01 PM
By: Brianna Long

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Students in Rochester Meet with Political Leaders

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- It's an election that most high school students won't be able to vote in, but the outcome will impact them for years.

"I really wish I could vote in this election because I think this a turning point in our country's future between either Obama's or Romney's kind of America, or how the want to see it," said Century High School senior Andy North.  

North and his classmates at Century High School got a very unique chance to address their political concerns with the lawmakers themselves.

"We've invited, essentially all the democrats and all the republicans from the state and federal levels to come talk to students about what their campaigns are hoping to do," said teacher Shane Baker.

When it comes to the issues, there was no holding back.

"I believe the marriage amendment is important, I believe the voter ID amendment is important, I believe education is an important issue, especially for the future of this country," said student Michael Ekker.

"Mostly the debt is one of them. That's a big one, and its going to affect more our generation, when we grow up," added North.

There's no doubt that the students had differing opinions on who they would vote for this November.

"Obama," said students Sara Manulik and Claire Ryan, in unison.

"Romney," said North.

"Honestly, I'm kind of split," said student Xiuqu Cao.

But everyone seems to agree that these students are the future.

"The strength of our country is in our grand democracy and to keep that running, we need our young people to understand the support of it, to understand their civic responsibility, and ultimately to vote when they're ready," said representative Kim Norton.

"It's really good to see young people who are involved, they're interested, and I was really impressed with the caliber of questions that they asked," added senator Carla Nelson.

"I think it's fantastic that they want to involve young people, because we are the future, and its us who are going to be voting in a couple years," said Ryan.

The forum is held every two years, and organizers say some students actually go on to volunteer for campaigns, after participating in this event.