MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008 2:40 pm

TMP Photo by Kelly Hite. Blackman student Margaret Parham helps fellow student Jessica Ritchie register to vote at the Blackman High Student Council voter registration drive Aug. 29.

The Blackman High Student Council held the first student-run voter registration drive in the history of the Rutherford County Election Commission Friday signing up the next generation, so they can help shape tomorrow.

“I want students to be a part of the future and have a voice in the future,” explained Liz Ortlieb, BHS sophomore class president.

Or as Rutherford County Elections Administrator Hooper Penual put it, “If you’re not registered then you can’t vote, and if you wait too late then you can’t get registered.”

Those who want to register with the Election Commission have until 30 days before Nov. 4, or until Monday, Oct. 6. Registered voters, who need to change an address or name, have until Oct. 15 to file with the commission.

Students who are 17 years old, but will be 18 by Nov. 4, can go ahead and register, Penuel explained. The Election Commisssion will hold their voter registration card until their 18th birthday.

“Then they can vote in this election,” Penuel said, explaining the commission usually hold registration drives at the end of the school year, but they’ll do one in September in the run of to the presidential election.

“We feel good about the schools going ahead and doing this,” Penuel said.

Ortlieb conceived the idea and proposed the registration drive to school officials.

“The administration was very enthused by the idea,” Ortlieb said, “because youth is such an important part of this upcoming election.”

To prepare for the registration drive, three Blackman High students went and trained with elections officials learning how to properly fill out forms and turn them in, Penuel said.

Eight members of the Student Council manned voter registration tables throughout the school and assisted eligible students fill out necessary and proper voter forms, so that they can vote in the upcoming election.

Tuesday, Nov. 4 features the presidential, U.S. House, U.S. Senate and state general election, as well as the municipal elections for Smyrna, LaVergne and Eagleville. Smyrna will also vote on whether to allow liquor stores within the city limits. Early voting runs Oct. 15-30.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.