Initiative unveiled to encourage younger
Ohioans to participate in election process
Efforts coincide with the 40th anniversary of the passage of the 26th
Amendment by Congress to give 18 year olds the right to vote. Ohio
became the 37th state to ratify the amendment on June 30, 1971.
COLUMBUS – Earlier today, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted joined
students at Whetstone High School to announce Grads Vote and Elect Your
Sticker. These programs are designed to get graduating high school
seniors registered to vote and expose Ohioans of all ages to the
electoral process by allowing them to vote on the next Election Day
sticker.
“The issues facing our state and nation will impact our lives for
generations to come,” Secretary Husted said. “We need to educate our
young adults on the issues and the importance of voting and becoming
civically engaged. Grads Vote and Elect Your Sticker are two programs
that can help accomplish this goal.”
Grads Vote
Intended to help increase the number of 18-year-olds who are registered
to vote in Ohio, which currently stands at more than 82,000, Grads Vote
is an outreach initiative that provides graduating high school seniors
with the information needed to become an active Ohio voter. As part of
the outreach effort, Secretary Husted hopes to increase this number and
plans to visit high schools around the state to educate and inform
students on the importance of voting.
Grads Vote will run now through October 11, 2011, which is the deadline
to be registered to vote this year. Individuals looking to get
registered only need to be 18 by Election Day, November 8, 2011, and
complete a voter registration form. Registration forms and additional
information are available online at GradsVoteOhio.com.
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/grads/gradsvote/index.html
Elect Your Sticker
In an effort to reach younger Ohioans even before they are eligible to
vote, the Secretary of State’s office has launched a second initiative
– Elect Your Sticker. This program provides Ohioans of all ages the
opportunity to help select the next “I Voted Today” sticker.
Participants will choose from six designs and may vote as often as they
wish. To further engage students, teachers may download lesson plans
that outline ways to better incorporate the Elect Your Sticker
initiative as part of the curriculum.
Elect Your Sticker will run now through August 8, 2011. To vote on your
favorite sticker, download lesson plans and for additional information,
please visit ElectYourSticker.com.
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