BY NUHA ISLAM
The deadline for voter registration in the upcoming presidential election is fast approaching. For the seniors who turn eighteen by election day (November 8th), they must have registration completed by October 18th. NHS has partnered with a member of the local community to make voting more accessible to all.
“It’s very important as many people as possible do their civic duty, vote and have their voice be heard,” volunteer and mother Lori Green said. “That’s why I approached the high school, I knew there would be many people who are perfectly qualified but haven’t signed up yet.”
Green, along with the help of NHS, have spent A and B lunches asking seniors around the campus if they’ve registered or not.
“It’s important to vote because the government has a huge impact on our lives,” NHS advisor Dwayne Dixon said. “Whether you realize it or not, everything that takes place in our government affects you in some in some way, shape, or form, and if you don’t vote, you lose your say in that.”
Along with this drive, NHS is also hosting a mock debate in tandem.
“To get people hyped up, we are going to start campaigning as candidates,” NHS President Nikki Tjin a Djie said. “We just want to get as many citizens engaged in this election as possible.”
The actors who are playing the candidates for the mock debate will soon have campaign signs up. That includes pre-voting, where underclassmen can go through the motions of voting in preparation for their turn. All AP social studies classes will be watching the mock debate as well.
The goal of all of this is to help prospect voters make informed decisions, and keep their options open.
“We are not permitted to coach anybody on who to vote for, although it is prompting a lot of conversation, usually on their part,” Green said. “If they have questions about party affiliation, I ask them to talk to their friends, a teacher or a parent about it.”
With preparations in place, NHS hopes all eligible students will vote on November 8th.
“I’m very hopeful that students will take the opportunity to have their voice be heard through voting,” Dixon concluded.
