EDGERTON STUDENTS … The Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose joined for a picture with the junior and senior Class of Edgerton High School.
LEADERSHIP … (Left to Right) SRO and Social Studies Teacher Matthew Krill, JH/HS Principal Brett Grieser, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRosa, and Superintendent Ben Wilhelm.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Students at Edgerton High School were given a firsthand look at the voting process during a visit from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose as part of the state’s “Youth at the Booth” program.
The visit marked the first time in Edgerton Local School District history that a sitting Ohio Secretary of State had appeared at the school.
LaRose became the 51st Ohio Secretary of State in 2019, and served as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, Army Reservist, State Senator, and an Eagle Scout.
“As Ohio’s Chief Elections Officer, he has strengthened the state’s election security, guided record voter participation across the state, and launched the office’s first public integrity division,” states Superintendent Ben Wilhelm.
“Secretary LaRose has also modernized campaign finance and transparency, and he has helped drive record business growth to streamline registration systems.”
Secretary LaRose spoke with Edgerton juniors and seniors about the importance of voter registration and participation in the democratic process. He oversees Ohio’s election system and has dedicated himself to improving voter engagement statewide.
“We had an idea a couple of years ago to get out to high schools and start teaching our students how easy it is to vote, how the process is trustworthy and convenient, and how the ‘Grads Vote’ program came to be,” begins LaRose.
During the presentation, students were given the opportunity to learn directly about how voting works and what responsibilities come with being a registered voter.
LaRose provided an in-depth explanation of how the voting process works throughout Ohio, reinforcing the importance of the bipartisan system.
“I’m happy to say that during the seven years that I have been Secretary of State, our accuracy rate has been over 99%,” he continues.
As part of the educational experience, students were also able to cast votes using real election machines, which were provided by the Williams County Board of Elections.
The hands-on demonstration allowed students to experience what voting will be like when they become eligible to participate in official elections.
The ballot included multiple items for students to vote on. One section asked students to select their favorite college sports team, with options including Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
Another asked students which three staple Edgerton School lunch items should be served more often, and the last question asked whether Edgerton High School should offer a Winter Dance.
The ballots were then officially counted by the Board of Elections team, providing a real-life demonstration of how the voting process works.
Students were encouraged to ask questions throughout the visit and took part in a question-and-answer session with Secretary LaRose.
Many expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet with a state official and gain a better understanding of how elections are conducted.
“I believe that you all are the right now of our state,” says LaRose. “I believe that your generation will be that next great American generation that will leave the country even stronger than you found it.”
When asked about the beginnings of the Youth at the Booth program, LaRose answered,
“We’ve been working on it since 2019. We sent out a mailing, 150,000 every year. Every school gets them to give to their graduating seniors. Right after Covid-19 happened, I said – Let’s take this up a notch.”
“If we’re honest, if we remember the first time we voted – it’s intimidating. What we wanted to do was bring out the real voting machines, and actually let the kids vote on something fun,” he says.
“What we’ve found, as we’ve done this around the state, is that every time the kids say, ‘Well, that was easy.’”
LaRose explains that they have conducted this program all over the state of Ohio, visiting different schools several times a month. Visits amount to a “couple dozen times a year.”
Due to the limited schedule and large number of schools statewide, opportunities to participate in the Youth at the Booth program can be competitive. Edgerton High School was selected from among many districts, making the visit a notable opportunity for local students to take part in an experience that is not always easily available in Ohio.
“Civic engagement matters,” LaRose states. “Public education exists for a whole variety of reasons. We often focus on preparing students for careers, and obviously, that is very important.
“One of the reasons, in this country, public education was started was to prepare young men and women for active citizenship.
“A democracy cannot function unless you have an informed electorate. Having people have a basic understanding of stuff – it starts with voting,” he affirmed.
The Edgerton High School community and the Edgerton Local School District extended their thanks to Secretary LaRose and the Williams County Board of Elections Directors for their role in bringing the program to students in northwest Ohio, helping to educate the next generation of voters.