A flier provides information about the Clarke Central High School voter registration drive on Sept. 25. The co-organizers of the drive, special education department teacher Dr. Stefan Smith, social studies department teacher Emily Costley and special education department teacher Carla Johnson, have pushed out the flier on social media to encourage students to participate. “We’ve just been trying to get the word out, asking our students and anyone else in the community that we reached out to to get fliers out (as well as) information (saying) this is what will be (happening) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday,” Johnson said. Graphic courtesy of Emily Costley
To provide an opportunity for eligible Clarke Central High School students to register to both vote and become educated about the election process, CCHS is hosting a voter registration drive on Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m outside of the Billy Wade gym.
Special education department teacher Dr. Stefan Smith, social studies department teacher Emily Costley and special education department teacher Carla Johnson are co-organizing the event.
“We’re trying to provide information to our eligible voters on the process — where they can go, where they can get information (about voting),” Johnson said. “We’re hoping to have some sample ballots to help understand the process or what it looks like. That will help ease fears for first-time voters going into a polling location.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event co-organizers have specified their plans for social distancing at the event.
“We’re planning on setting up outside of the main gym, on the Baxter Street side. We’ll have tables available that (will be) socially distanced, with computers so anyone who needs to register will be able to get on the computer, we can get them to the website to register. We’ll make sure we have sanitizing equipment there to sanitize after each use,” Johnson said.
Johnson feels that despite the abnormality of the event due to COVID-19, the drive will still provide opportunities for eligible student voters.
“I know we’re in different times, so it’s not something that we can necessarily do in the building or face to face. But, we still want to try to figure out a way that we can still get our students and our community educated and involved and to (answer) questions about the voting process.”
While not taking part in the event, CCHS senior Tomás Dougan has registered to vote in the 2020 election because he feels he has a responsibility to uphold.
“I think for a government to be democratic, the responsibility neither solely falls on a constitution to enumerate it with democratic institutions, nor its officeholders to uphold them. A government is democratic if the people take advantage of these institutions and vote,” Dougan said.
