Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Letting their voices be heard

Teens take to the polls to cast their vote for president, weigh in on issues

UR Vote Counts

Aaron Thompson/Special to the Home News

Tia Horseman, 15, center, and other teens cast their votes for the presidential election during the UR Vote Counts traveling voter exhibit held at the Meadows Mall on Aug. 30.

Click to enlarge photo

Keeonn Barnes, 19, gets a removable tattoo from UR Vote Counts volunteer Angelina Johnson at the UR Vote Counts traveling voter education exhibit held at the Meadows Mall on Aug. 30.

Some teenagers who can't vote in this year's election still have concerns about health care, education and the Iraq War. They want the country to know whom they would vote for as president if they could.

And on Aug. 30 at the Meadows Mall, some teenagers got that chance.

UR Vote Counts, an interactive forum and national campaign that allows teenagers to vote for a president and on issues, has been traveling around the country and local teens got the chance to participate.

"I was just telling my friends how much I wish I could vote," said Iman Fagan, a 14-year-old Durango High School freshman.

After standing in an election booth, Fagan walked away with a smile. "Now I got a chance."

Fagan said that the issues that concern her the most are education and poverty. She also said that she wished schools provided more education about issues like abortion.

"I voted for Barack Obama because overall he is more concerned about everybody's best interest," she said.

The forum, presented by mall owner General Growth Properties, was kicked off by Disney star Selena Gomez on Aug. 16 in Glendale, Calif., and will go to 150 malls across America and end Sept. 21.

At the end of the tour, the information voted on will be gathered, counted and presented as what teenagers would do if they could vote in the general election.

"These teens will be voting in 2012," said Carrie Renfrow, marketing director for the Meadows Mall. "This is a great way to gauge the position of future voters and encourage them to help understand how powerful votes can be."

Yasmeen Ellyazidi, 13, who lives in North Las Vegas, said she is concerned about poverty in the United States, and wants a president who will address the issue.

"The president should help people who don't have money so they can buy a home and have places to live," she said.

Yasmeen also said that because she is from California, environmental issues are important to her, and that she would vote for Obama.

Siblings Edward Hernberger, 16, and Wanravee Hernbeger, 17, who attend Spring Valley High School, both agreed that they would also vote for Obama.

"Because he will take the troops out of Iraq," Edward said.

Wanravee said Obama has his support because her father is a union member and is afraid of what presidential hopeful John McCain has planned for unions.

"McCain would destroy the economy for my family," she said.

The teenagers could also vote for a charity that will receive $15,000, donated from General Growth Properties. The charity that receives the second greatest number of votes will receive $7,500 and the charity with the third greatest number of votes will receive $2,500. Some charities they could choose from include Habitat for Humanity and the National Wildlife Federation.

For teenagers who want to vote, but were unable to attend the mall, they can visit www.urvotecounts.com and vote for a president and on issues of education, national security, Social Security, the environment and health care.

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or [email protected].

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