With an expected voter turnout of only 35 percent for Daviess County on Tuesday, the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center wants to increase the number of local voters through its Statesmanship Academy students’ efforts throughout Election Day.
Gracie Roberts, a Statesmanship Academy student at the Ford Center, is interning with the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce as part of Owensboro High School’s Bluegrass Scholars Program, and is at the helm of the GO Vote campaign where, among other activities, she has involved other Statesmanship Academy students in the GO Vote campaign.
“I find it extremely important to be involved with this because my generation is who is going to be voting this year,” Roberts said. “Voter turnout is crucial and along with that, voters need to be educated on what they are voting for, who they are voting for, and why, exactly, voting is important.”
Ford Center Executive Director Diane Ford said that their partnership with the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and their GO Vote initiative is one of the students’ favorite projects..
The Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization promoting civic engagement and striving to give area high school students a better understanding of how government operates while promoting the importance of learning to respect and learn from someone with a differing opinion.
Daviess County High School and Statesmanship Academy student Ryan Beckwithsaid that as part of this program, he is becoming more informed about the political climate.
“I am starting to formulate my own opinions and learning what my true values are,” Beckwith said. “I am learning the importance of bipartisanship and taking ideas from both sides of the political spectrum. I am becoming well-rounded in my views, and I love being able to effectively talk to my peers about politics, even if we disagree.”
Owensboro High School and Statesmanship Academy student Olivia Miller has participated in taking the message to the streets on Election Day as a member of the Statesmanship Academy for the last three years. She said that it is important to her that people vote and a privilege and right for all.
“Ever since I was little it wasn’t even a question if I was going to vote or not,” Miller said. “I’ve been going to the polls every year with my mom, and this year will be my first time actually casting my own vote.”
Owensboro Catholic High School and Statesmanship Academy student Emma Silvert said that even though she is unable to vote this year because of her age, she wants the community to show up at the polls.
“I also want to show Owensboro that our generation wants to ask the community to vote with young people in mind to provide us with opportunities as well, even if we are unable to vote ourselves,” Silvert said.
In addition to the Ford Center’s annual tradition of students taking the GO Vote message to the streets during the day, and holding signs to remind people to vote, the center will also host an event from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ford Center, which is located in the new E.M. Ford building at 600 Frederica St.
Ford said that any voter who comes with an “I Voted” sticker to the Ford Center can enter a drawing for one of 10 restaurant gift cards and a grand prize of a Series 5 Apple watch.
Ford Center students will be serving hot dogs, chips and drinks for anyone that stops by.
“We believe that communities work best when we come together despite our differences, learn to respectfully listen to one another, and work together to solve the problems facing us today,” Ford said. “We refer to this process as the ‘Three C’s’ — civility, cooperation and compromise.”
Miller said that being aware and informed about what’s going on in the world is an amazing skill to start early.
“It also shows those around our community that young people do care and we are striving to make a difference,” Miller said.
For more information visit fordgovcenter.com.
