Linda Morris used to watch mostly humorous and music videos online. These days, she visits YouTube for candidate speeches, political interviews and commentary.

Morris, 18, said she’s eager to cast her first vote in the presidential election Nov. 4 and, as president of Howard Community College’s Student Government Association, is hoping to motivate other young people to do the same.

“I really want to encourage student activism,” the North Laurel resident said. “I want them to realize they have a voice and to use that voice.”

To that end, the school’s SGA organized a mock election and voter registration drive Oct. 3. The event, called Rock the Vote, was set to music and performances by student groups.

At the end of the day, it was Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama who emerged as winner of the mock election, capturing 66 votes to 22 for Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, according to event organizers.

The Howard County Board of Elections registered 27 voters at the Oct. 3 event, according to director Betty Nordaas.

Ann Balcerzak, president of the county’s Board of Elections, said it was the board’s fourth visit to the college this school year.

“I’m finding that they’re responsible about voting,” she said. “We’re having a good response.”

In addition to registering voters, Balcerzak distributed handouts explaining the two questions that will appear on the ballot this fall — on early voting and legalizing slot machines — in an effort to familiarize voters with the topics in advance.

Llatetra Brown, HCC’s director of student life, said the college has held a series of civic-minded events this fall in addition to Rock the Vote, including a discussion and viewing of “Iron Jawed Angels,” a movie based on the women’s suffrage movement, a panel discussion focused on the Constitution and an election-themed game show.

“They’ve been really enthusiastic and energetic,” Brown said of students. “I think they’ve been inspired to be a part of this election this year.”

The college also has designed incentives for students to vote. HCC students who present their voter registration card and an “I Voted” sticker after the Nov. 4 election will be entered in a drawing for prizes, Brown said.

“We want to send the message that it’s a good thing and we encourage that behavior,” she said.

Some students at the Oct. 3 event discussed their opinion of the candidates.
Morris said she supports Obama because of his “focus on the youth of America.”

“As someone who can’t really afford college tuition — especially at some of the universities in this area, they’re off the charts — I think it’s important to support someone who has our best interests in mind,” she said.

HCC student Kassie Sandacz, of Jessup, said she supports the Republican ticket, in part because she is a fan of vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin.

After casting a vote for McCain and Palin in the mock election Oct. 3, Sandacz, 18, said she had watched the vice presidential debate the evening before and felt that Palin better articulated her ideas than in previous televised interviews.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden “didn’t lose any people for Obama, but I think that Palin gained support for McCain,” Sandacz said of the debate.

---

user comments (1)

user virginiaharris says...

Can you even imagine not being able to vote?

Thanks to the suffragettes, America has women voters and women candidates, and we are a better country for it!

Women have voices and choices! Just like men.

But few people know ALL of the suffering that our suffragettes had to go through to get the vote for women, and what life was REALLY like for women before they did.

Now you can subscribe FREE to an exciting e-mail series that goes behind the scenes in the lives of eight of the world's most famous women to reveal the shocking and sometimes heartbreaking truth of HOW women won the vote.

Thrilling, dramatic, sequential short story e-mail episodes have readers from all over the world raving about the original historical series, "The Privilege of Voting."

Discover how two beautiful and powerful suffragettes, two presidential mistresses, First Lady Edith Wilson, First Daughter Alice Roosevelt, author Edith Wharton and dancer Isadora Duncan set the stage for women to FINALLY win the vote.

Read this FREE e-mail series on your coffeebreaks and fall in love with these amazing women!

Subscribe free at

www.CoffeebreakReaders.com/subscribe.html

Posted 9:09 AM, 10.07.08

• Permalink