Students Register to Vote in First Presidential Election

Avon High School student Asher Kinyon turns 18 on Nov. 5, just in time to be eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election.

“It’s pretty big, especially because of the turmoil with the candidates this year. Nobody’s really happy with the Republican candidates,” Kinyon said, also noting uncertainty within the Democratic party because “a lot of people aren’t quite sure if they approve of what Obama’s done in his first term.”

He was one of 54 students who registered to vote Thursday at the high school through the Registrars of Voters Office annual spring session. That was an unprecedented turnout, according to Rebecca Blankenbicker, who was helping students register. Last year, 31 students registered. Twelve Avon residents who attend Northwest Catholic registered last week, Registrar Ann Clark (D) said.

“I think there’s bigger awareness,” Blankenbicker said of the increase in registrants. “We try to encourage them to register in their hometowns as oppose to registering in the town where they’re going off to college.”

Kinyon won’t be able to vote in the May 16 budget referendum because he won’t be 18 by then.

He also will not be voting in the Republican presidential primary on April 24 because he is now a registered Democrat. However, if he registered as a Republican, state law would have allowed him to vote in the primary at 17 because his 18th birthday falls before the Nov. 6 election.

Any 17-year-old who registers with a party within the appropriate time frame will also be able to vote in the August primaries for U.S. senatorial and congressional candidates, assuming they will be 18 by Nov. 6.

“I thought a lot of kids would want to [register] for the primary, but a lot of them are voting unaffiliated,” Deputy Registrar of Voters Kerry Ladouceur (R) said.

She will never forget how her 18th birthday was just shy of the cutoff to vote in her first presidential election, so she values helping high school students register because “it was so important to me when I was 18.”

“I think the kids are genuinely excited,” she said. “Everyone’s excited to vote for president.”

Laura Haynes, 17, as a registered Republican, is eligible to vote in the presidential primary.

“I think it’s going to be interesting. I’m excited for a new experience growing up,” Haynes said. “I enjoy watching debates and seeing [the candidates’] different perspectives and views on issues.”

When Kinyon was asked what he’s most interested in this election, he said that he’s focused on candidates’ foreign policy on nuclear weapons.

“I’m Jewish, so their stance on Israel is really important to me,” Kinyon added, also identifying “domestic job creation” as an important factor.

The economy was also a concern for student Jacob Nyklicek, 17, who said he is happy to be able to vote in his first presidential election. He registered as unaffiliated, so he’s not tied to any party and can’t vote in a primary.

“I’ll leave that choice for later in life,” Nyklicek said.

Shivani Sinha, 17, also registered as unaffiliated.

“Oh man. I’m excited,” Sinha said. “It’s kind of nice to have a say now.”