In Our Opinion
The keys to future elections in the state of Washington could be in the hands of those who may have just recently earned their drivers license.
That is if legislation Secretary of State Kim Wyman is proposing passes, allowing 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in a program that would be part of high school history and civics classes.
The legislation, House Bill 2707/Senate Bill 6340, was introduced in both chambers on Jan. 19. The prime sponsors are Rep. Steve Bergquist, D-Renton, and Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, with members from all four caucuses signing on, including Cheney’s Jeff Holy from the Sixth Legislative District.
Currently, 17 1/2-year-olds are allowed to pre-register and then vote as soon as they turn 18, but this legislation moves the pre-registration window earlier and adds the education component.
The Cheney Free Press editorial board strongly supports this idea in hopes it will not only create more voters, but a better educated electorate.
While the new crop of voters still cannot cast a ballot any earlier than they currently can, it’s our thought they will be ready, perhaps more so than many current voters, when they turn 18.
The educational piece that is part of this legislation is one of the best reasons the bill needs to become law.
Civics, along with other social studies classes, seems to be a moving target in a school curriculum today that is required to pack way too much into a student’s classroom career.
A lot of people who currently vote either do not understand or forgot some of the basic tenants of the civics classes they may or may not have taken in high school.
One of the best examples of this lack of understanding with today’s electorate is government money.
When local officials speak of projects that will be funded with 10 percent local money, and 90 percent from another source, remember that it is still money collected through income, property, sales or others taxes.
It’s not free money as some think, just because it’s a federal grant.
And when it comes to the U.S. Constitution, the interpretations from the common man — let alone the high courts across the land — are numerous.
Recently there have been news stories about “the sovereign citizens,” people who claim, among other things, the Constitution allows them to drive without a license in their wallet or on their vehicle.
Congress is authorized to levy a wide variety of taxes, fees and regulate commerce and perhaps an interpretation is there somewhere if one wants to take time to dig.
Another topical phenomenon is the enormously popular presidential candidate, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. The self-avowed socialist has galvanized his popularity by promising the sun, moon and stars to fawning followers.
But do they realize there’s a process that first involves the friendly bunch in Congress who needs to authorize additional spending on an account already some $20 trillion overdrawn?
The president, the governor, or local mayors are not kings — despite what some might think — and further study by future voters in civics can help dispel such notions.
Better-informed new voters who are products of the legislation contained in HB2707/SB6340 may also understand that contrary to some notions, their vote can and does count. There’s not a better illustration than in 2004 in the governor’s race in Washington when just a handful of votes gave Chris Gregoire the nod over Dino Rossi.
While the actual voting age will not change with this legislation, it could in the future. There are 19 states where 17-year-olds can vote on state and local issues.
And a Maryland city has lowered the voting age to 16 for its local elections.
We have already made it so easy in the state of Washington to cast ballots with our vote by mail system, yet turnout still often suffers.
It’s time for a new wrinkle to help improve how elections in the state of Washington are conducted and this legislation is a good place to start.
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