Names of Emporia High School students were added to Lyon County’s list of eligible voters, after a voter registration was held this week in conjunction with student balloting for EHS Homecoming king and queen candidates.
During the lunch hour at the school Tuesday, members of the League of Women Voters registered students who will turn 18 by the Nov. 4 general — and presidential — election.
“That’s when most of our students are out and about and are available to do that,” said EHS Assistant Principal Steve Turner, who has worked with Lyon County Clerk Karen Hartenbower and the League for several years. “When we only have a five-minute passing period, it’s tough to get the kids registered then.”
Homecoming candidates had just been announced when Turner talked about the project in September. Turner sent the list to Hartenbower, who programmed the computers with the candidates’ names.
“It’s exactly the same computers they use in elections,” Turner said.
Hartenbower has long been a proponent of registering youths to vote and has made registration and education a priority for her office.
“I was chair of the committee that actually got legislation passed so 16- and 17-year-olds could work at the polls,” said Hartenbower, who also testified before the legislature on the proposal.
For the past several years, she has trained high school students to help with elections throughout the county. They attend day-and-a-half training sessions required of election workers and, with the proper signed paperwork, get excused absences along with the ability to assist voters in using the touch-screen voting machines, or help with other election chores.
“It’s a win-win situation, because I’m sure those students will vote,” she said. “When they get to vote, they’ll vote for the rest of their lives.”
With a presidential election coming up in early November, timing with the Homecoming vote and voter registration is bound to draw in 18-year-olds to sign up to vote.
“I think with a lead up to the election, I think there’s more excitement,” Turner said.
The students’ jobs as poll workers adds a layer of benefit for the youngsters in general.
“The neighborhood people can see kids in a good light, doing good things,” Hartenbower said. “The rest of the board workers have gotten so they request a high-school student because they’re so pleasant.”
And last year, when a machine malfunctioned, one of the students fixed it, she said.
The mutual arrangement also gives students experience with the touch-screen machines to cast their votes for Homecoming king and queen, Turner said, and secretaries no longer use time counting votes by hand.
“(Hartenbower) offered to let us use her tabulating computer when our students vote,” he said.
Candidates for homecoming royalty were announced at a pep assembly last week.
The queen candidates are: Taylor Hollond, Amber Miller, Katie Weaver, Janae Scheve and Whitney Page. King candidates are: Corey Bacon, Brian Dorsey, Josh Maguire, Pedro Gonzalez and Ryan Dorsey.
Winners will be announced on Friday.
With the balloting, tabulating and voter registration assistance, the cooperative effort has simplified the election process, as well as introduced students to the responsibilities of voting and how to do it.
“It really helps us out a lot and we really appreciate it,” Turner said.
equalrights (anonymous) says...
I think this is a great idea!
October 1, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kseyetie (anonymous) says...
I concur. We need to get youngsters registered, voting and getting into the habit of participating in their government. Good job!
October 1, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
I think its great that Karen Hartenbower let them use a voting machine! What an awesome idea!
October 1, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )