Many Iowans are ambivalent about the choices in the presidential election but this will be the first time in the voting booth for thousands of young people — and they need to be encouraged.
Carolyn Thiele, with the League of Women Voters in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says they’re spreading the message on sidewalks using spray chalk to remind everyone to register and vote in November.
“The league’s mission is to make democracy work better and that only happens if everybody’s voting,” Thiele says. “It’s just that gentle, fun reminder that yes, this is an important part of being a citizen in this country.”
Art students helped to design the stencils for the chalk-painting project with slogans like “Be a voter!” and “Go vote!” in English and Spanish. Several area high schools are being enlisted to join the effort.
“The sophomores that are part of the Partnership 4 Kids are going to be doing a lesson on voting and after that, they’re going to be doing a service learning project where they’re going to help us put the chalk messages around their community,” Thiele says. “They’re also going to help us organize a voter registration drive in their high school so if there are any 18-year-olds, they’ll be able to register to vote and vote for the first time in November.”
Election Day is November 8th.