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June 26, 2008

Students encourage voting in ‘Run Across America’

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Two teachers and five students have taken to the road to register people to vote and to encourage those already registered to go vote in the November general election.

The students aren’t old enough to vote yet, but they want to raise awareness of non-voters as well as of voters for the 2008 elections.

“We can’t vote because we are all 15 or 16,” said Ian King Morris of Oxford, N.C., and an aspiring runner already training for the 2012 Olympics. “We are nonpartisan, but we are trying to influence the election. We believe if the American people get out and vote they will make the right decision.”

The Run to Vote 2008 team is stopping in one city in each state to register people to vote and to ask registered voters to sign a pledge that they will actually vote on Election Day. For each person who registers to vote, the team will run one-fourth of a mile.

Mike Detter of Edmond’s Fleet Feet teamed up with Steve Rosson of Oklahoma Station BBQ in Edmond to have a registration drive Thursday. People who signed up to vote or pledged to vote in the 2008 election received a BBQ sandwich and slaw.

Another student, Itzamara Santillan, researched the national voter registration forms that are needed as they go from state to state. Ian helped her make a candidate fact sheet to give to participants.

“I didn’t realize how registration requirements differ from state to state,” Itzamara said, “and some states do not even use the national registration form.”

On the Road Across America was the idea of teacher Jonathan Williams.

“I am the track and cross country team coach for our school, and I also teach civics,” Williams said.

“The right to vote is the most prized of our constitutional rights,” Williams said. “It is discouraging that only half of American adults typically vote in national elections. We want to encourage and inspire people to vote — a right denied to many people around the world.”

Williams also said he believes teachers tell students to get involved, but they don’t show them how.

“Everyone has a talent, and mine is running. I believe in getting students involved and later they will influence policy.”

The team started out with about $1,000 seed money, said teacher Diane Hineline.

Across the country the team has received pledges and help from public officials, schools, churches and residents who have been inspired by their vision.

The team left Stem, N.C., on June 14 and will complete the nationwide trip visiting all 48 continental states. They plan to cover several thousand miles before completing their run at Washington, D.C., by Aug. 9 registering people to vote in time for the November election.

From Edmond the team will travel to Amarillo, Albuquerque, N.M., and Flagstaff, Ariz.



FOR MORE information about the team’s travels, along with updates and a complete list of cities the team will visit, go online to www.RunToVote.com.

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