Student request leads Northeast High seniors to early voting polls

Election officials hope the experience encourages students to register early and make voting a lifelong habit.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Northeast High School student’s request led to a trip to the polls for seniors, giving them a chance to experience early voting firsthand ahead of Election Day.

“A couple of weeks ago we were at Northeast talking to the kids, and a student said, ‘Why can’t y’all just take us?’ Marshall Talley said. “So, then I thought, ‘Why can’t we just take them?'”

The trip highlighted the importance of civic engagement and participating in elections.

“Hopefully it’s a start of a good habit, and they’ll come out and vote for every election we have,” Macon-Bibb Board of Elections Supervisor Thomas Gillon said.

Talley, the District 2 Representative on the Macon Water Authority board, says seeing students get the chance to experience the voting process firsthand is emotional, showing just how meaningful the opportunity can be.

“It makes me feel proud, and almost teary eyed; knowing kids have access and opportunity,” Talley said. “They see it all the time, but to actually participate, that’s life changing.”

Talley says he hopes students will share their voting experiences online, encouraging their peers to get involved and helping build a culture where voting is something to be excited about.

“The plan is for them to be excited and share their experiences online,” he said. “We want to make a culture change, so if their friends see it, and they think it’s cool, then we’re changing the culture one child at a time.”

Gillon says student voter registration isn’t happening as often as officials would like. He hopes the experience encourages students to register early so they’re ready to vote as soon as they turn 18.

“You can register at 17 and a half but can’t vote until you’re 18 of course,” he said. “But we would love to see registrations start early for them and start their habit of voting early, as soon as they turn 18.”

Educators hope the experience encourages students to stay involved in local issues and understand the importance of making their voices heard at the ballot box.