Student voter bill provides needed information to youth, with less hassle for teachers | Opinion

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” While much has changed since Abraham Lincoln first spoke these immortal words, this message still rings true. Our democracy is better when more people vote, but in Tennessee, one group consistently lags behind in voter turnout: young people. This is especially concerning because, as the next generation of Tennesseans, their civic participation is vital to ensuring continued liberty and prosperity for our great state.

Acutely aware of this problem, high school students were spurred into action last year when they witnessed the roadblocks their peers encountered while registering to vote. They researched and drafted a bill to fix many of the issues faced by young voters and then built a coalition of supporters and advocates.

Unfortunately, their efforts didn’t come to fruition during the last legislative session, but the work continues this year with SB346/HB933. Developed by students across the state, the bill incorporates much of the feedback received last year and improves upon the original idea. The legislation will provide students with information on voter registration by sending an e-mail to their school accounts during their senior year.

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Benefits of the proposal

Disseminating the resources by e-mail lessens the burden on teachers and administrators and it allows them to utilize already-in-place technology infrastructure instead of organizing packets or brochures. Using e-mail also ensures students receive the information even if they are absent when it is distributed.

In addition, the bill specifies that the language would be written by the Secretary of State’s Office, guaranteeing that the material is nonpartisan and accurate. This is important as some schools have civically minded teachers distributing voter registration information, which could allow inaccurate information to be disseminated.

In fact, Secretary of State Tre Hargett has already established incentives to boost youth voter registration. The Anne Dallas Dudley Award, for example, honors the eponymous suffragist and Tennessean by recognizing high schools with outstanding voter registration rates. Schools with 85% of eligible students registered by March 31st receive the Silver Award, while an incredible 100% of eligible students registered earns the Gold Award. SB346/HB933, once enacted, would boost youth voter registration in conjunction with the Anne Dallas Dudley award and other programs, such as the GoVoteTN app.

The bill has generated broad bipartisan support and received praise in the State and Local Government Committee before passing unanimously in the State Senate. The bill is now headed to the Tennessee House of Representatives, where we hope for similarly encouraging results. At a time when division and partisanship seem ubiquitous, this legislation is a strong testament to the value of bipartisanship and the power of young people.

Sincerely,

Avery Roth, Katie Rush Walker, Will Severn, Trent Benge and Erin Joyce.

A note from the students:

This piece was written by the students who drafted and advocated for the bill. Some of us worked on last year’s bill; others are entirely new, but we all bring something unique. We have spread the word through social media, testified before committees, built a broad coalition of advocates, and met with state officials to discuss the measure. The support and encouragement we have received from so many people has been incredible. We are truly grateful for everyone who has helped us along the way, no matter the size of their contribution. If you want to support our movement, follow us on Instagram @studentvoters or e-mail tnstudentvoters@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Proposal gives students needed tools to exercise right to vote