The importance of voting, not just in presidential elections but also local ones, was emphasized to young women during an informative Voter Education Program at Girls Inc. on Saturday April 27, 2024.
Before the morning was complete, 10 Girls Inc. members had registered to vote and were excited to cast a ballot for the first time in August.
Reagan Beverly, a 15-year-old Ritenour High School sophomore, called the session “a good opportunity to talk about voting, especially with an election coming up.”
“It’s so important.”
Chanel Scott, 16, said it was interesting to share thoughts on the importance of voting with her peers and facilitators.
“Learning more about the voting process has been great. Not just for president, in every election because they all matter,” said the Timberland High School junior.
Chery Jones, Girls Inc. president and CEO, said her organization partnered with The Links Inc., to present the fact-filled voting discussion, which included members of state Sen. Brian Williams Youth Advisory.
“We are just excited because young people are the ones to start any initiative. We need to engage them in the voting process and not wait until they are older,” she said.
“It’s important to not slide into it, but to really know it and understand it. You can’t think ‘my vote doesn’t matter.’ People died for this.”
Debora Patterson, a Links member, said election knowledge is essential in today’s world.
“The younger you are [when you learn], the better you understand that your vote is your power. You don’t want to give that power away by not showing up,” she said.
Nikylan Knapper, the former mayor of Maplewood, opened the day by telling the girls, “If we are going to have a say, we need young folks to vote.’
“Too many rights have been taken from us. We don’t have to just accept what is coming from Jefferson City. Research says reach out before [young people] are old enough to vote.’
Stanford Cooper and other members of the Williams’ youth advisors introduced the girls to a card game called “The Process.” It details not only how the voting process works but also how it can be used – and misused through disinformation.
“We ask, ‘what do you want to change?’ You can vote to change it,” said Cooper.
“It is not that many young people don’t care about voting; it’s that they just don’t know.’
Josephine Goode, Links vice president, said it was important to get the advisory board involved so the girls could here the importance of voting from people nearer their age.
“We got 10 girls registered, and that’s wonderful,” she said.
Gena Hill, 18, and a senior at Incarnate Word Academy, registered to vote during the session.
“I’m excited. I’ve gone with my mom to vote and I’m looking forward to voting,” she said.
