Schools

64 High School Seniors Register to Vote

Session held at Canton High School Tuesday.

A total of 64 seniors registered to vote Tuesday during a Registration Day program hosted by school and town officials.

The morning featured remarks from Social Studies Department Chair Nora Mocarski and First Selectman Richard Barlow. In addition, three representatives from local parties spoke, Brian First on behalf of the Republican party, Mark Quattro for the Democrats and Edith Offenhartz for independent and unaffiliated voters.

While each spoke a little about their parties, all emphasized the importance of participation.

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First spoke his great Uncle Ed who was shot as he jumped out of an airplane during the Korean War. The family still has his tags with a bullet hole through them.

“My great uncle and hundreds of men like him sacrificed greatly so you can exercise the right to vote,” First said.

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First also said Republicans are well represented in town but feels the parties often come together.

"I think it's important to note our local parties work well together," he said. 

Quattro told the students that nearly everything, from a clean Farmington River to the warm school auditorium, were the results of political decisions.

“You can’t avoid politics,” he said.

Quattro told students they could vote in primaries if they registered as Democrat or Republican but urged them to remain independent thinkers, citing examples of presidents who were considered great overall but gave “black eyes” to our history, such as the Japanese internment camps under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

He urged students to carefully consider their future and outlook. 

“Get out there and change the world,” Quattro said.

Offenhartz said an unaffiliated status, which can be changed, could give students time to research the candidates and issues.

“As a beginner, being unaffiliated might help ease you into the world of voting,” she said.

Offenhartz also urged students to participate no matter what.

“Every vote makes a difference — a huge difference,” she said.

After students filled out their forms and showed some identification Town Clerk Linda Smith then swore them in.

Several students also took absentee ballots, knowing they would be away at school or elsewhere on Nov. 6.

Smith said a change students can participate in August primaries at age 17 as long as they are 18 by Election Day.

The breakdown of registrants Tuesday is as follows.

  • Democrats — 21
  • Republicans — 10
  • Unaffiliated — 27
  • Independent — 5
  • Green — 1

 


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