By SHARI FRANK, guest columnist
Busy with life and school and work and classes, who thinks about checking their voter registration a month before an election?
But in Indiana, the voter registration deadline is about a month before an election, so if you want to vote, you have to beat that deadline.
Every year, millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or aren’t sure how to register.
National Voter Registration Day is a day to remind people to people to Register to Vote. This year, it was Sept. 24, and Brown County League of Women Voters volunteers went to Brown County High School to help students register to vote.
A dozen new voters
“How long does it take?” students asked, rushing between classes. Happy to find out it just takes a couple minutes, 10 students completed their Voter Registration form in minutes with the League of Women Voters Brown County at Brown County High School.
A couple other students vowed to register to vote online, taking info with the voter registration website for easy registration: indianavoters.in.gov.
A lot of students didn’t realize that as long as they will be 18 by the general election (Nov. 3, 2020), they can register to vote NOW.
The New York Times reports the youth vote is growing and is expected to be an important voting bloc in the 2020 general election. “Energized by issues like climate change” and more, student votes are expected to make a difference. It’s important students know their rights, and work to overcome any barriers that may interfere with their access to voting.
What’s important to you?
Sometimes people write off high school or even college students as not being informed on important issues for voting. But we found a lot of consideration.
Fifty-four BCHS students shared their thoughts. The feedback is sometimes insightful, sometimes lighthearted. The range of comments would probably be the same in any group of citizens regardless of age.
BCHS survey responses below seem to represent the diversity we see across Brown County and the country at large. Concerns cover a wide range of issues include equality for women, saving the planet, roads, animal welfare, mental health, gay rights, racism, respect for different opinions, bullying and more. The full list of student comments is below.
What’s important to you? What do you want legislators to know?
1. I think it’s important for women to be included in everything. I think the lawmakers should know that there are people struggling.
2. To get Speedway workers in Nashville to get more respect for people.
3. Video games, books, fun stuff.
4. Protect children that are “coming out.”
5. My family is important to me.
6. I want lawmakers to know that I appreciate them.
7. We need to consider the other sides of each political party. This country needs a strong stance on rationalism. We need both conservative and liberal ideas.
8. Ages of tobacco use.
9. Racism!
10. Something important I want lawmakers to know about would probably be in the dress code at school. Understand, showing “too much” skin at school — but young girls shouldn’t be objectified by what they wear at school. We’re not objects or toys for boys to look at.
11. Don’t be so secretive.
12. I think that people should not be racist.
13. Care about a good country.
14. Make the fine for Juuling increase.
15. I really care about my family and others not valued like some others.
16. Bullying of any kind, in school and out, should be a no-tolerance policy no matter what the circumstances. It should not be tolerated the way it is now. It’s truly unacceptable for a student to want to take their own life because of another student.
17. Weed should be legal.
18. Weed should be legalized because there’s no evidence that it causes harm. Stricter gun regulations.
19. Healthcare should be made a human right.
20. Weed should be legalized. It’s not as dangerous as alcohol, yet weed is banned, and vodka isn’t.
21. Dogs are important to me. Lawmakers should know dogs need a home.
22. Equality. Do more to help the community and support the homeless more. Stopping abortion. Raising the age of smoking and alcohol to 25. Actually enforce the law of no tobacco/Juuling under the age of 25.
23. Girls having more power.
24. Mental health — mental health is more serious than the lawmakers are aware. Animal rights.
25. My biggest concern is the roads of Brown County and the country roads. I’ve hydroplaned coming from school and going to school every day.
26. Money is good.
27. Rules are cool.
28. Smoother and safer roads.
29. Letting us hang with our friends.
30. I love my Juul. Wanna buy me some pods?
31. Make them stop yoinking my Juul.
32. The roads are bad near Greasy Creek — big potholes that could be filled in.
33. All over Brown County fix the roads and cut down the bushes/shrubs to see the road before someone is dead!
34. Legalize weed!!
35. School should be more comfortable so that we are more inclined to learn.
36. School.
37. I think that school is very important; however, the way we are being taught in school and the environment we learn in is not beneficial to mental health. Neither preparing us for college.
38. Freedom.
39. I like soccer.
40. More gay rights.
41. Equal rights and equal pay.
42. Equal rights. Every woman should have the same pay as a man.
43. I would like lawmakers to know that young generations do find economic and environmental concerns very important, and we will hold them accountable for their actions and decisions.
44. Freedom.
45. Women’s rights.
46. Not let our guns go away from the 2nd Amendment. Don’t take it away.
47. Something that is important to me is my right to play sports.
48. My family and friends.
49. My dogs.
50. Women should not be able to vote.
51. Abortion should be illegal.
52. Pollution, roads, equality.
53. I find the willingness to listen is very important. It can give some insight in certain situations. It also gives a different point of view.
54. It is important that my voice is heard in the government. I want lawmakers to know that we need to work together to save our planet.
Nashville residents: Vote Nov. 5
IF YOU LIVE IN TOWN: Be sure to vote Nov. 5, 2019, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Nashville Town Hall.
Nashville Town Council members from District 2 and 3 are contested races. The Nashville clerk/treasurer is on the ballot uncontested.
Pledge to vote, and pledge to take a neighbor! Your vote matters.
Check out who is running for Nashville Town Council and what their positions are at bcdemocrat.com/2019/10/10/town_election_2019_council_candidate_qampas/
See a sample ballot at https://indianavoters.in.gov or pick up a sample ballot from the Nashville clerk-treasurer’s office at Town Hall.
Shari Frank is president of the League of Women Voters Brown County.
