On Wednesday, September 25th Torrance High students had a chance to register to vote in the easiest of ways…right in front of the Library.
Dr. Magaela Bethune was in charge of outreach and ran the booth. This event was held in accordance with National Voting Registration Day which was on September 17th.
The steps, as she explained to Tartars, were simple: Visit https://RegisterTo Vote.ca.gov, pre-register, turn 18, and lastly vote. A quick and easy step to enter into your adult life.
But not many teenagers know or care that you can pre-register as young as 16, let alone where or how to do so. That’s what Dr. Bethune was here for: to give students the facts they need to be informed about this opportunity at a booth during lunch.
Dr. Magaela Bethune, an assistant professor, stood solo with a pile of candy adjacent to her. Cheerfully she spoke on how to pre-register while handing out a long document to whoever was willing to pre-register right then and there. This was great for students like Dainielle Ferrer, who, like many, “pre-registered for extra credit.” The 17 year old Tartar explained that the sign up process “was really simple, you just had to know your information.”
On the sheet information like your address, social security number, and drivers license had to be filled out. Things that I definitely don’t have memorized, these are essential though to adult life. The dreaded acts like booking doctor appointments will be a breeze since you are more knowledgeable about your information because you got to pre-register. Pre-registration will get you a taste of what it’s like to fill out information, to take action, to make your voice heard, and to prepare you for adulthood.
But what happens if you mess up your address or other areas on the fillout? Well you wouldn’t need to fret since there is an option to edit your form online. You can even just do the whole process online. Teachers like Mr. Zuliani even offer extra credit for just doing it!
Students who didn’t intend to register were still able to receive a sweet treat just for listening. Or even better, students discovered that you can be hired as a student poll worker, so long as you are able to maintain a 2.5 GPA, have a guardian present, and the school’s permission. Students like you can earn on Election Day.
So for all Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors don’t be afraid to pre-register, become a poll worker, or just become educated about your rights as a US citizen. Just visit https://RegisterTo Vote.ca.gov for more information and to get your chance to take a step into your civic duty!