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Bradbury woos young minds Secretary of state stresses need to vote By PETER WONG CENTRAL POINT -- Though his audience was part of a generation least likely to vote, Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury says what he did Thursday morning with students at Crater High School is part of what needs to happen everywhere. "The point of working with students and younger voters is to convince them that their futures are being determined at the ballot box," he said. "We are at risk of losing an entire generation in this democratic process. I think all of us recognize that the democratic process is not going to work if we lose a whole segment of society in voting." Bradbury, the state's chief elections officer, spoke to more than 70 students in the "American Government Experience" class taught by Alan Burjoski and Donna Hildebrand. Most of them were sophomores, several years away from the legal voting age of 18. But instead of lecturing them about elections and voting, Bradbury divided the class into segments representing the population. All students could voice their opinions on the four ballot measures he presented in a mock election. But only 14 were allowed to cast ballots -- and three of them were teachers and Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett, representing older voters. The other students were excluded because they represented people under age 18, people who were eligible but not registered, or people who were registered but did not vote. "I think it was interesting to see that of such a large class, only a tiny fraction of us could vote," said Lindsay Fauble, a student. "We realize that a lot of people do not take control and say what they want." Though people between ages 18 and 34 make up about 30 percent of the nation's population, a third of them are not registered -- and those who are generally cast the fewest votes in proportion to their numbers. According to a study by Bradbury's predecessor, Phil Keisling, turnout by younger voters in the Portland metropolitan area for Oregon's 1998 primary was 12 percent. The statewide turnout for all ages was a record low 34.9 percent. "It made me realize who votes and who does not, and what the different sides of a community are," said Addie Wiersma, Crater's student body secretary, who is in the class. "You hear teachers talk about it, but when you hear someone like the secretary of state, it makes you realize how it may affect you." The ballot measures that Bradbury posed were of considerable interest to the students: Should one year of military service or other national service be required of high school graduates? It failed, 11-3. Should metal detectors and random checks of lockers be used to search for weapons at middle and high schools? It passed, 11-3. Should Oregon's minimum wage be raised $1 per hour to $7.50? It passed, 8-6. (Oregon voters in 1996 approved a three-step increase to $6.50.) Should state income taxes be spent for free public college education for students with grade point averages of 3.5 or better? It failed, 13-1. "I realize a little bit more now about what is going on," said Tyler Brotherton, a student. "I think it will make it more interesting when I turn 18 and start voting." Bradbury repeated the exercise Thursday afternoon at Ashland High School. "I think the way Secretary Bradbury worded the questions really got the kids engaged," Hildebrand said afterward. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA