San Mateo County Voter registration Week 2005
- by Ricky Alexander, Woodside High School graduate, class of 2005

"I believe Student Voter Registration Week will successfully foster increased civic responsibility and democratic participation among local students. This effort is all the more important when viewed in a historical context. For example, the young women in my high school government class would not have been allowed to vote only 85 years ago, before the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The African American students in my senior classes would not have been allowed unfettered access to vote only 40 years ago, before the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Mexican-American students with whom I am good friends would not have been assured the right to vote only 30 years ago, before amendments to standing suffrage law.

And only 34 years ago, none of the seniors who are graduating in the Class of 2006 would have been able to vote because the age limit was not lowered to 18-years-old until the enactment of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.

Considering all of the sacrifices that Americans have made over our history to procure the most equal and open voting system, it is a shame when our youth today do not exercise their rights.

Students today are hungry for a voice and they don't know where to find one. We must convince our peers and our children that the voice resides in the ballot box. Just ask kids if they want a say in school funding or college scholarships and financial aid. Ask kids if they want a say in choosing our next President. And ask kids if they want a say in whether they are drafted to fight in Iraq. I'm sure a sizable number of teenagers and young adults who would not otherwise have the initiative to vote, when roused by these questions and our historical struggle for their rights to vote, would cast their ballot when election day rolls around."

Ricky Alexander
Woodside High School Senior 2005