Twitter
Facebook
In this election year, young people are encouraged more than ever to register to vote. At Ramstein High School, many students are now taking this step. Teens who are 18 years old by voting time are getting the oppor-tunity to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.
Students in the school’s U.S. government class have decided to “rock the vote” this year. Registration is a mandatory assignment for this class for all those students age 18 and older, although, in some states, 17-year-olds can legally vote as well.
Jayme Norris, U.S. government class teacher, has been encouraging students to register for 10 years and believes it is important to get young voters involved in their country’s government.
“It is critically important,” she said. “There are a lot of issues that directly and indirectly affect them. If you establish the habit of voting and being aware of issues while still in school and use it as a credit-gaining activity, motivating students, there is a greater chance of them pursuing this civic responsibility for the rest of their lives.”
This year, the media has played a remarkable part in getting younger voters interested in the political scene.
“There is probably a higher turnout this election than in previous ones. Not only has print and televised media played a role, but also Internet media. The candidates are reaching out to young, first-time voters, which makes a positive difference,” said Mrs. Norris.
These new voters seem to have their heads on their shoulders, said the teacher.
“They know the issues and are developing ideas of who to vote for,” she said. “They are learning to think for themselves and not just rely on super-ficial qualities or other’s opinions.”
In this age of technology, registration can be had at the click of a mouse. Anyone who wishes to become a voter can visit fvap.gov to request an absentee ballot, fill out the necessary information and submit the form. You can also mail or fax a Federal Postcard Application. Don’t wait too long, though; many states’ deadlines for registration end as early as the first week of October.
