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Office of Elections Partners with Schools

Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov

Dec. 17, 2007

Office of Elections Partners with
Schools on Voter Registration Program

The Fairfax County Office of Elections, in conjunction with Fairfax County Public Schools, is sponsoring a special outreach initiative that provides the opportunity for newly eligible teens to become voters. "Your Vote is Your Voice" is a program being conducted in all county high schools, including alternative schools and special service centers.

Voter registrars go into each senior social studies classroom, present information on registration and absentee voting, and sign up all eligible students who wish to register. Teachers and registrars combine efforts to make the program a success.

Walt Addie, senior government teacher at Westfield High School, has been a longtime advocate for the registration program. "The Fairfax County voter registrars’ program partners with our government team of teachers to bring our civics and government program to life," he said. "They explain and reinforce what we teach in the classroom concerning voting and elections."

Teen interest in voting is at a high pitch this year. Voter registrars have been greeted by enthusiastic, motivated students, and registration totals are at record highs. "With almost half of the entire senior class registered this year, this program is proof that these young adults break the stereotype about their age group concerning civic responsibility and participation," said Addie.

Students who register will be able to vote in the Nov. 4, 2008, General Election, as well as in the Feb. 12 Presidential Primaries and the potential June 10 Congressional Primaries. Any student who is at least 17 years old and will be 18 on or before Nov. 4, 2008, is eligible to register to vote.

Jackie Harris, Fairfax County general registrar, is enthusiastic about offering this program to Fairfax County students. "Every election is important," said Harris. "But we know it's special to vote for the first time in a presidential election year. We want to be sure that Fairfax County young people have this opportunity."

For more information about "Your Vote is Your Voice," contact the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711 or voting@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.

Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. To request this information in an alternate format, call the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.