Voting is a freedom that not everyone chooses to embrace, although it is our civic duty to elect officials to govern the people.
It is no secret that many citizens do not vote. Many people naively believe that their vote simply does not matter. Every vote counts, whether it is in student council elections or the vote that determines our next president. This is important for young voters, whose first time voting will be in March and/or November of this year, to know.
Devin Jones, a senior at Russellville High School, plans to vote because she has the right to vote and believes her opinion matters.
“It is important for people to vote because they need to know what's going on within our government and who will be running our government for the next four to eight years,” Jones said.
Josh Pinkard, another RHS senior, is excited to vote in the 2016 presidential election.
“It will be my first year being able to vote, and I’ve always wanted to,” Pinkard said. “We are the next generation, and it is our duty to take control of our future.”
When asked about why young people do not vote, the seniors had similar answers. Pinkard believes that young people are not encouraged enough to vote. Jones believes that young people are either not educated enough on the election process and government, or they are just too lazy and do not care about voting. Research supports their beliefs.
Research done by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Association of Secretaries of State found that one-third of high school seniors felt uneducated about the electoral process and considered political topics irrelevant.
Kim Burney, a history teacher at Russellville High School who would hate to see history repeat itself, believes that it is the responsibility of young people to vote in order to take ownership of their country.
“They live here, are educated here, and pay taxes here. They are our future, and it is important that they participate in elections,” Burney said.
As a history high school teacher, Burney believes 18-year-olds are educated enough to make a wise voting decision. They are well informed with their current programs, and what they learned is fresh on their minds.
“Most 18-year-olds have had enough courses in United States history and economics, and I feel like that gives them the information they need to vote,” Burney said.
Barry Moore, Franklin County probate judge, believes in the power of voting.
“I encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to do so, because every vote counts,” Moore said.
Moore believes that young people are like everyone else; they are affected by the decisions that politicians make, whether it be on a national or local level.
“I would like to encourage and challenge young people to get involved in the political process and community events," Moore said. "Once they get involved they will become interested in voting and making a difference."
Young voters (or anyone else that needs help with the voting process) need to know where to register, how to register and the registration deadline. Prospective voters need to register at the Board of Registars located in the basement of the Franklin County Courthouse, or they can stop by the Franklin County Probate Office.
The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is February 12. The date for the primary election is March 1. Prospective voters can also visit alabamavotes.gov to register and for more information.
“It would benefit young voters to study the candidates, both presidential and local, online and gather as much information as possible in order to make a wise decision,” Moore said.
For any questions, feel free to contact the Franklin County probate office at 256-332-8800.
