Editorial: A worthy program to register young voters

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998 | 11:38 a.m.

Nevertheless, 13 Clark County high schools attended a Close Up presentation last Tuesday to encourage participation. Ellen Kottler, a social studies specialist for the Clark County School District, said the program would be incorporated into senior year American government classes in participating schools. Close Up will provide materials and a video free of charge. Even 17-year-olds can register to vote if they will be 18 before the next election.

The overall goal is to reverse the decline in the numbers of 18- to 24-year-olds who are voting. The trend has been dismal. The number of 18-year-olds who voted in 1972, the first election they were able to do so, was 50 percent, according to First Vote Director Sandy Horwitt. In 1996, just 29 percent of 18-year-olds voted.

But Close Up is doing its part to stem the tide of voter apathy. Since the organization was started, First Vote is now in 3,400 high schools around the nation; about 100,000 students have been added to voter registration rolls for each of the past three years.

Talking in class about the responsibilities of voting and giving students actual voter registration forms make sense. If we can instill a sense of duty and citizenship in high school seniors, it may pay civic dividends for years to come.