Dominic Alandt | Bomber Media
Kenston High School students turning 18 by Nov. 8 can complete their voter registration using provided registration materials in The Hub.
The high school provides the registration card, a pre-addressed envelope, important registration dates, and candidate information. Students only need to place a stamp on the envelope and mail it.
Michelle Lane, director of the Geauga County Board of Elections, encourages all voters to be informed about their voting decisions and thinks building good habits as a new voter is a great place to start.
KHS students looking to vote in the November election can find everything they need to register in The Hub. (Anna Marthe)
“If you’re going to vote, it’s always good to be knowledgeable of who and what you’re voting for,” said Lane.
Mrs. Anissa Smith, a Kenston High School AP Government & Politics teacher, encourages student voters to also “read what [the candidates] have to say in their platforms” and find out if you agree with their stances.
Outside of local issues, some notable races on the ballot this November include Governor DeWine’s reelection bid, an open seat from Senator Rob Portman in the Senate, and multiple congressional representatives, including Dave Joyce running for reelection in the 14th district, among others.
“It is very important for people to be actively involved with, and to be knowledgeable about what is going on in politics,” said Rita Szymczak, the director of membership for the League of Women Voters of Geauga County.
“Voting is a privilege that a lot of people don’t have in other countries,” said Szymczak. “[Americans] should follow through with the privilege because it’s something that people fight for and we are privileged to have it.”
According to the United States Census Bureau, in similar midterm election years, only 53.4% of eligible voters participated in the 2018 election, an increase from 41.9% voter participation in 2014.
Seniors who are interested in voting from their college campus in the fall can request an absentee ballot. Absentee voting for the November election begins Oct. 12. College students may also register to vote in the area they attend college, but they must fill out a new voter registration form to update their voter information.
New voters may be nervous to vote, but Deputy Director of the Geauga County Board of Elections, Nora McGinnis, argues the contrary.
“It’s an exciting time and it’s something they should be proud of,” said McGinnis.▮
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Dominic Alandt is a multimedia reporter for Bomber Media and a senior at Kenston High School.