From left, intern Mary Farish, County Clerk Sharon Stover and Los Alamos High School seniors Sophan Kellogg, Sarah Bouquin and Lucinda Lucero Tuesday afternoon in the Clerk’s Office. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos High School seniors Sophan Kellogg, Sarah Bouquin and Lucinda Lucero gathered in the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office Tuesday afternoon, where Kellogg and Bouquin registered to vote. The 17-year-olds will turn 18 before the Nov. 4 election so were allowed to register to vote Tuesday. Lucero won’t turn 18 until next spring, but joined her friends for the momentous occasion.
The Federal Voting Rights Compliance Law under Article 21 states that a U.S. citizen who will be 18 years of age or over on the day of an election has the right to register prior to, and vote on election day.
“I have been waiting for this for so long,” said Bouquin who registered as a Democrat Tuesday. “You hear a lot of trivial things that people get to do when they turn 18, like buying a lottery ticket and cigars but this is so important to me. My favorite show is “The West Wing” … I have an interest in politics, and even if I have a different career I would still be invloved in politics – it’s hard not to be if you really want to make a difference.”
Bouquin is a Youth Representative on the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB) and is preparing to travel to Las Cruces for a statewide Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) meeting.
Kellogg explained that she was excited to have the opportunity to register and vote in the upcoming election. “My main influence for registering Democrat is my parents. I like their views on many issues,” she said, adding that her parents often host political events so she is familiar with a variety of issues. “My parents are hosting a gathering for Sen. Tom Udall at our home this Sunday.”
The gathering is a meet and greet reception for Udall, 4-5 p.m., Sunday, July 13 at the home of Marvel Harrison and Tom Csanadi, 199 San Ildefonso Road. The community is invited to the event to support the re-election of Udall, Kellogg said. The suggested minimum contribution is $50 for those attending the event.
