A head start in the election process

Mary A. Castillo

Standing outside the polling precinct at the United Methodist

Church, poll worker Keiko Beattie greeted 17 future voters from Matt

Palaferri’s fifth-grade social studies class. They had come to cast

their secret vote for class president.

“How many here know about voting?” she asked the group, some of

whom were proudly wearing sweatshirts from Anneliese School.

Each student raised his or her hand.

“When you’re 18, you will have that right to vote,” she said. “You

have the empowerment to change our country with your vote.”

Beattie, who has been a volunteer poll worker for six years, feels

passionate about these hands-on experiences with the students. To

her, it’s a tribute to her parents and family members, who were

interned during World War II.

“It makes me proud that they did it with such dignity,” she said.

“They did it to prove they were good Americans, and now I do my

part.”

As Beattie discussed the history of voting in America, she was

pleased that these youngsters were keen on recent issues.

“Does anyone remember who was running in the last presidential

election?” she asked.

One student answered, “Gore and Bush.”

“Very good,” Beattie said. “A lot of adults don’t remember that.”

Alongside registered voters, the children lined up at the booths,

eager to determine the fate of their fellow student back at school.

“Voting is important because you can chose what you want and not

what other people want,” said Katie Reifsnyder, 10.

“It’s a right everybody should have,” said Natasha Rodstein, 10.

As they filed out of their booths, Beattie passed out “I Voted”

stickers and candy.

“I hope I see you when you’re 18,” she said.