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High School Seniors Get Lesson in Voting

Alyssa Jung, Spotlight News

There are milestones most teenagers look forward to, like getting a driver’s license or graduating from high school. But there’s one that is often overlooked and while it might not seem as exciting, it’s just as important: registering to vote.

To remind Saratoga Springs high school seniors of their civic duty, and to show them that being a first-time voter can be exciting, Superintendent Janice White and local elected officials recently visited with several classes as part of the voter registration drive and education outreach program hosted by the school each year.

“I spoke to them about the fact that all that they’ve learned in their 13 years of school was leading them to the point of being responsible adults and that just as; there are other milestones in their lives … this is another part in that move to adulthood; the ability to register to vote and participate in the decision-making process,” said White.

White said she tried to make the 17- and 18-year-olds understand that voting is their chance to have their voices heard.

“This is the opportunity to voice their opinion through voting and it is equal to anyone else who’s able to vote, so in other words they don’t get half a vote just because they’re 18,” said White.

Voting as soon as they’re eligible can play an important part in creating a life-long voter.

“Getting in the habit of voting whenever they can is like any other good habit that a person can have and as a citizen, exercising their right to vote is critically important,” said White.

Students also had a chance to practice using the new voting machines with mock ballots and could register to vote if they were 18. If they weren’t yet of voting age, they could put their names on a list, to be ready.

Local officials stopped by over the course of two days to meet with students and help them understand what some of the positions they might be voting for, actually are.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matthew Veitch, a Saratoga Springs High School graduate, shared his duties.

“I gave them an overview of what my job is at the County Board of Supervisors; different things we deal with as a county as far as issues, gave them a little background into holding a political office and campaigning,” said Veitch.

Veitch said giving new voters an idea of who they’re voting for will hopefully encourage them to head to the polls.

“The hope is to raise awareness about what kinds of positions are out there and what do elected officials do. They have the power of the vote … and they need to know who they’re voting for and what they’re voting for,” said Veitch. “That’s what I wanted them to get out of it. There’s a whole world out there as far as governmental agencies and actions and who you vote and put in there affects all of that.”

White said the students she spoke to, about three classes, seemed to respond well to the concept of voting.

“They seemed interested … my group was engaged and responsive and I think they took it seriously,” said White.