State targeting Trumbull teens to vote, work polls

The average age of elections workers in Ohio is 72.

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — Graduating seniors in Trumbull and four other Ohio counties will receive letters from Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner this year as part of a pilot project aimed at increasing young people’s involvement in the electoral process.

The initiative, called “the ultimate civics lesson,” targets 157 high schools and 15,000-plus students.

High school seniors in Trumbull, Knox, Scioto, Lucas and Montgomery counties will receive letters about the importance of voting, voter registration cards, absentee ballot forms and information about working at the polls on election days.

Brunner unveiled the program at the Statehouse on Tuesday morning. The goal, she said, is to increase voter participation and identify young people who would be willing to serve as pollworkers.

Brunner said the average age of elections workers in Ohio is 72.

“When young people serve as pollworkers, they have said … they are more likely to be lifelong voters, and their family and friends are more likely to vote as a result,” she said.

Praise from the first lady

First lady Frances Strickland praised the cooperative effort between the secretary of state and the department of education.

She said the letters would send the message to students that “we want you to participate in the decisions that are made in the state on your behalf. I don’t think we can do that any too soon, and I’m really glad that we’re putting this focus on our young people.”

Asked whether counties were selected because of their political leanings, Brunner said her office tried to pick areas outside Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, which she said receive ample attention during the political process.

“We tried to get a good mix of urban and rural,” she said.

She jokingly admitted a bias in selecting Scioto: It was chosen in deference to Gov. Ted Strickland, who was born in Lucasville.

mkovac@dixcom.com.