Omaha, Nebraska continues to make blue waves. This is so exciting that high school and college students are out doing civic education. I know that it is that nasty, useless community organizing, but still. /snark
Students Help Break Down Voting Barriers
Groups Encourage Newly Registered Voters To Cast Ballots
TheOmahaChannel.com
updated 10:15 a.m. CT, Sun., Oct. 26, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. - For some voters, language or cultural barriers can cause intimidation on Election Day. A group of high school and college students are working to help make that problem easier for local voters.
"We don't promote any political campaigns, we don't promote any candidates and we don't promote any issues," said University of Nebraska-Omaha professor Jonathan Alvarado. "We're here about promoting the process of voting."
Alvarado organized an effort to get out the vote. He has put students to work making signs, collecting information and getting ready to knock on voters' doors.
He said south Omaha is making remarkable growth in the number of new voters. He wants the students to help answer some of the questions those new voters may have.
"A lot of people are registered to vote that aren't actually voting," said student Brandy Eaves. "We just want to give them some incentive."
"(We'll) get them accustomed to the culture of voting in this county, and then also giving them an idea how they can fit into it," Alvarado said.
The students set out in groups with at least one Spanish-speaking person in every group.
"I think that person-to-person contact can really make a big difference," said student Kevin Huddleston. "You know when someone personally asks you to go out and vote instead of ads on TV or signs in a yard, I think it does make a big difference."
Alvarado received a grant from the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office to help fund the effort. The students have been out in south Omaha talking to voters over the last several weeks.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
I can only hope that we can return civics to public education.
Perhaps we should start our own community civics classes, since our government has managed to move the last 2 generations into non democratic ignorance. Maybe we can help them catch up.
It's so exciting to see Obama inspire so many people of all ages, colors and creeds!