Dona Ana County High Schoolers Register To Vote

In an effort to help improve voting rates among young people in Doña Ana County, The County Clerk’s office went out to high schools throughout the county to make sure teenagers were registered to vote. 
 
The Dona Ana County Clerk’s office held voter registration drives at almost every high school in the county; Chief Deputy Clerk Scott Krahling says it’s important to make sure people start voting early.
 
“So, you know, studies have shown the earlier you get involved in voting,” Krahling said. “The more likely you’ll stay involved in voting throughout the rest of your life. So, we just want to get good information into people’s hands, and in to their heads, so that they’ll become active citizens.”
 
Krahling says the effort was a success. 
 
“We had great response,” Krahling said. “At Centennial we registered over 70 people. Some of the high schools it wasn’t as big of a turnout, but it was great, very enthusiastic. We registered a total of 313 people in all those efforts.
 
Seniors at Desert Pride High School said they were happy it was easy to make sure their voices were heard in the upcoming election. 
 
“The teenagers in high school,” Mario Gomez said. “We don’t get as much appreciation, I guess, as any other people in our community, so I guess it’s important for young people to have a voice and vote, because the people we vote for they are going to make our voice be heard.” 
 
“It’s important,” Eric Bonilla said. “I’m 18, I’m able to vote, and if I’m able to vote for my vote to make a change I will do it.” 
 
“Cause I don’t agree with some of the politicians that are running,” Lluvia Castro said. “And Bernie just has a better view on how colleges should be, and how things should actually be run.” 
 
Scott Krahling says they try to make it out to the high schools before every election, but this year it served an additional purpose. 
 
“This year the law changed,” Krahling said. “Relating to how old you have to be to vote in the primary election, so we wanted to make sure that we got that information out into the people’s hands who that effects, and it’s 17 year-olds. So, high school was the best place for us to talk to those people.”
 
Krahling says 17 year-olds are taking advantage of the primary voting opportunity. 
 
“So, while we have registered 313 people through these outreach efforts,” Krahling said. “We have 278 17 year-olds, who are qualified to vote in the primary, starting May 18th, who before this law changed in New Mexico wouldn’t have been able to vote in the primary. And they’ll be 18 by the general election, so hopefully, we’re starting them out early and they’ll continue to be active citizens throughout the rest of their life.” 
 
Krahling says eventually, they hope to work on a curriculum with the schools to help teach the importance of voting. 
 
“In the future, we definitely want to try to coordinate with the school districts,” Krahling said. “To not only get in and talk to high schools, but talk to middle schools and elementary schools, so we can really start talking about the voting process. What it is, why it’s important, and hopefully start educating our youth at a young age, so we end up in a situation where we’re in high school and we’re talking about voting, and they already know why it’s important. And we’re just demonstrating the equipment so we demystify the process, and everybody’s enthusiastic and excited to vote.” 
 
Krahling says they will hold more voter registration drives in the high schools ahead of the general election.