A few seniors at Selma High School had the chance to take the lessons they might have learned in government or civics and put it to good use Tuesday, as they cast their ballots in Selma’s municipal election for the very first time.

For these seniors, being first-time voters, they said, gave them the chance to have a say in who leads the city they hope to one day lead for themselves.

Keiuonshay McGandey said the act of voting gave her a say in how Selma operates.

“We need someone that can support us and support us more often,” McGadney said of the criteria she was using to pick her candidates. “It’s great that we get to state our own opinion now.”

Rodreacua Craig, another first-time voter, had something specific in mind about his mayoral candidate of choice.

“I’m just looking for somebody that is looking out for us,” Craig said.

Senior Darrell Williams said he is excited to vote for the mayoral race and he shared what led him to his mayoral candidate decision.

“My parents have been a big influence so far,” Williams said.

It is early in the school year so not many high school seniors have turned 18 yet, said Lesia James, the senior advisor at Selma High School. Other high schools in the area did not have any seniors that were eligible to vote in this election, though multiple seniors might be old enough to vote in the national election come November.