LEIPSIC — As part of his “Grads Vote” initiative, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted traveled to Leipsic High School on Thursday to speak with students about the importance of voting and how young people play a key role in the democratic process.
“We started Grads Vote a few years back to try to reach out to high school students to help them learn about their right and responsibility to participate in our democracy,” Husted said. “I just think it’s really important for young people to understand this responsibility.”
Speaking to around 100 juniors and seniors, Husted provided historical examples of people who sacrificed their well-being to escape dictatorships and oppression. Husted mentioned the American Revolution, the Arab Spring and Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize winner who is an advocate for humans rights, especially education for women. At the age of 12, Yousafzai was shot in the face by Taliban members looking to silence her activism. She survived and continues her work as a humanitarian and human rights advocate.
Husted said he used these examples to help students understand the sacrifices their ancestors made to ensure they have the right to vote, and how people in many countries continue to fight for something Americans tend to take for granted.
“I want to make sure they understand that millions of people have fought and died for the cause of freedom and democracy,” he said. “But we’re not asking them to die or fight, we’re just asking them to register to vote, to learn about the issues and do their part as the next generation of voters in this country.”
One of those voters is Leipsic High School senior Alyssa Schroeder, who attended the event. At age 18, Schroeder voted in her first election this past November, and she said she plans to vote in many more elections in the future.
“I think as we all grow up and learn our own views on politics and society as a whole, we need to be informed,” Schroeder said. “Voting can influence the future of America, so if you want a strong country, you need stronger voters.”
Husted also assured students that their voice truly does matter, noting that 98 Ohio elections have been decided by one vote in the last three years. He said voting is especially important at the local level.
“A mayor’s race, a school levy — all these things are decided by small margins in many cases,” he said. “Everybody’s voice matters.”
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