League members promote voting and why it is important at all levels. Sally Beckerink has been setting up tables in the schools for years until it evolved into her going right into the history/social studies classrooms and directly teaching students, specifically the students who will be 18 years old by Nov. 4 and are, or will be, registered to vote. If they are not registered, she provides the information and paperwork to do so. Last month was Voter Registration Month, in which the League of Women Voters were available in Warren County Libraries to assist people with registering to vote.

National Voter Education Week is an open-source, nonpartisan voter education campaign. During this week of interactive education, voters have the opportunity to find their polling location, understand their ballot, make a plan to vote, and inspire others to get involved.

Recently, during the beginning of the voter education programs taught, Beckerink visited Eisenhower High School where she was invited to the classroom of Jim Penley’s U.S. Government class. Political affiliation was quickly discussed, so as to inform the students that they should choose their party – the League of Women Voters as well as the teacher clearly expressed they are non-partisan and not there to tell students which party to choose, but to encourage them to be sure to register to vote, as well as vote.

Beckerink pointed out that the school board has elected positions which affected these young people as some of these students had their school closed. Beckerink asked them to think about, “Who makes decisions for you, after you’ve voiced your thoughts with whom you voted for?” A quick example of how many people are registered and how many actually show up to vote, was given by discussing that if out of the 13 students in that classroom: three aren’t registered, and another three don’t show up to the polls which means that just about half of the class actually would be voting.

Jim Penley and Sally Beckerink are pictured during Beckerink’s visit to Eisenhower High School.

Then, Beckerink passed out a questionnaire. It had 20 questions with “strongly agree, agree, not sure, disagree and strongly disagree” on certain topics which included issues on the homeless problem, open borders, medical care, reproductive choices, women in combat, legal marriage, and the one that got some students chatting was the need to increase in the minimum wage. Students totaled their own score cards, wrote down that number and posted their number on a line graph on the board. This activity is to display where they fall on the political spectrum. Many people are moderates based on the hot topics in politics.

Finally, applications to register to vote were handed out. In addition, Beckerink said there is always a need for poll workers. Students can earn money for doing this and even have an excused absence from school depending on the time frame they choose to work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students have to be at least 17 years old to be a poll worker. An interest form was handed out. Penley provides a post in his classroom of all the polling places. Students can hand in their interest forms and let him know which polling place they are interested in, followed by Mr. Penley sending it to the courthouse.

Mrs. Beckerink visited the Warren Area High School as well and will also visit the Warren County Career Center.

Pictured is a line graph used by Sally Beckerink of the League of Women Voters Warren County.