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Local volunteers aim to educate voters VOTING >> Nonpartisan group surveys people about political issues Local students help Virginia Organizing Project register, inform voters for November election Date published: 7/11/2008
BY SHAYNA JACOBS
Al White couldn't hide his frustration when asked to name his key voting issue. "In our country, the number of people without health care is just pitiful," the King George County resident said, shaking his head. He said candidates should have health care "at the forefront" of their agendas. But he could not name any local official who shared his desire to reform the system. White was responding to interns of the Virginia Organizing Project who were interviewing people at Fredericksburg's Fourth of July Festival of Streets last week. The VOP is a nonpartisan group seeking to increase voter registration and to inform residents about issues such as health care, income gaps and discrimination. "The vast majority of people [we talk to] are already registered," said Amber Yancey, one of the three college students from Louisa County working in the Fredericksburg area for the VOP this summer. Statewide, 67 percent of eligible residents are registered to vote. The numbers are higher in the Fredericksburg area: about 80 percent in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and 73 percent in the city, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census and Virginia State Board of Elections. The door-to-door surveys are also an effort to collect information about issues important to the VOP. The students ask five survey questions, including "What issue do you think is most important in your community?" and "On a scale of 1 to 5, how important is health care reform to you?" "Voter registration is part of what we do, but the voter education part is just as big, if not bigger," said VOP org-anizer Kevin Simowitz. Health-care reform is one of the group's priorities. Its list of causes also includes awareness and prevention of racial profiling. The question, "Do you think racial profiling is an issue in your community?" is being asked only in a few specific areas of the state, Simowitz said. Yancey said the profiling question often makes people uncomfortable. "People answer yes to it for many different reasons." April Anderson, another intern, said most people are skeptical, thinking the students are solicitors. But they are usually more receptive after the interns explain the project. "They're pleased to hear people are trying to fix things in the area," Anderson said. But not all of those surveyed are interested in the message. At the Louisa County Fireman's Fair last week, two of the half-dozen people interviewed by the students said they weren't registered to vote and didn't want to.
Fairgoer Stacey Matkins, who is registered, said schools need to do a better job of teaching students the importance of voting. "Had I not heard it enough from my dad, I wouldn't have thought it was important for me," she said.
Shayna Jacobs:
Date published: 7/11/2008
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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