Why We Vote
April 9 through 13 is College Civics Week in Washington, sponsored by the Secretary of State’s office. The week focuses on getting younger voters civically engaged. According to the Secretary of State’s website, Reed established College Civics Week in 2005 “to improve students’ understanding of elections and empower Washington’s youngest voters to make real changes in their communities and the world.”
The following week, in Tacoma, Mayor Strickland and Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed will lead a panel of special guests to take a look at what motivates young voters. The “Why We Vote” event at UWT next Thursday, April 19 will focus on students’ roles in the community and politics. Organizers hope the event will facilitate a discussion on the needs and values of younger voters, and empower students to become more politically engaged.
If decisions are made by those who show up, this initiative is aimed at getting more Washingtonians to show up, and helping them know what to do when they get there. The more the merrier. What got you involved when you were a young voter (or if you still are one)? Or if you weren’t involved, what were obstacles to your involvement?
Why We Vote
When: Thursday, April 19, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: University of Washington, Tacoma, Phillip Hall, 1918 Pacific Avenue
Details: Free, open to the public. Visit www.sos.wa.gov for more on College Civics Week.
Filed under: Get-Involved, Events
2 comments
F fredo April 11, 2012
Mayor Strickland informed a reporter from the PLU newspaper that all Republicans are racists. Hope she’ll have time at the “Why We Vote” event to elaborate on her comment.
J jd April 11, 2012
I’ve always been amazed by our apathy when it comes to voting. I firmly believe that the issue isn’t disenfrachisement, but rather, it’s laziness. I’m tired of hearing excuses like, “My vote won’t matter” or, “they’re all the same”. It DOES matter, and the candidates definitely aren’t all the same. I’m hoping this next generation of voters will see the importance of this responsibility.
My son gets to vote for the first time this year, and I’m proud to say that he’s excited about it. We’re probably not voting for the same candidates, but that doesn’t matter to me nearly as much as the fact that he’s thought about why he’s leaning the way he is.
Taking a few minutes every year or so, to do something that affects your life so dramatically, is one of the best investments of time that one can ever make. Anything we can do to encourage voting, is time and effort well spent.