MEADOW BRIDGE, WV (WOAY) – Meadow Bridge High School celebrated its 31st Jennings Randolph Award for student-led voter registration, participating in the democratic process.
The late senator advocated for West Virginia’s youngest eligible voters, passing the voting age from 21 to 18.
For inspiring their peers to vote, the West Virginia Legislature will recognize honorary Secretaries of State (seniors) Kierston Rozell and Emily Carothers on a future visit to the Capitol.
“Feels empowering being so young — I’m only 17, so I didn’t get to vote,” said Rozell. “(With) voting a huge process and thing you can do and we can do is a good feeling to know we are heard.”
The school registered every eligible senior to vote. Secretary of State Kris Warner says it gave him a reason to return to Fayette County. He also says County Clerk Michelle Holly has done a phenomenal job working with the schools.
“Working with our office, and we had a chance to catch up and talk about what’s going right with fair and clean elections, the integrity in our elections,” said Warner. “It’s a team effort down here, and I greatly appreciate that.”
Your vote matters. Growing up Rozell says she didn’t think much of it but now realizes the importance of that voice.
“Thinking about the responsibility and privilege you have to do it,” she said.
And Carothers encourages her fellow students.
“You should vote because it’s your say. It’s the only say you’re going to get in government,” she said. “If you’re for a candidate enthusiastically, but you don’t feel like your vote will count towards them, you should still vote because it could make a difference.”
When the students hear that for 29 years somebody cared enough to fight for a right for them, it resonates. And so is the powerful story of West Virginia’s Jennings Randolph (Father of the 26th Amendment) when it came to 18-year-olds getting drafted to go to war, yet the voting age was 21.
“He had a problem with that,” said WVSOS Field Representative Lee Dean. “‘If these 18-year-olds are old enough to fight, serve, and die; why aren’t they voting‘ — If they’re old enough for bullets, they’re old enough for ballots, too,” the senator would say. “But he couldn’t just sign a piece of paper and make that happen. He had to change the constitution.”
Meadow Bridge is the only school in the state to receive this recognition as long as they have.
“We’re continuing the legacy of this award,” Carothers said. “Something my parents have always done, my grandparents, they’ve always voted. To be able to continue that with them feels great.”
