New voters drawn to school event

South Kitsap School District’s Back to School Celebration draws plenty of incoming students.

That also means parents new to the area.

Organizing for America, which spearheaded the project Saturday at South Kitsap High School, is affiliated with the Democratic Party. But the Back to School Celebration is a nonpartisan event, and Organizing for America member Pat Crawford said the group’s only mission at the event was to get people to register to vote.

“We don’t want to suggest we are [favoring a candidate] one way or another,” she said. “We won’t discuss anything. We’re a community getting people to come out and vote.”

Crawford said they thought teenagers would be the largest demographic to register to vote, but most of the 20 people who did that within the first two hours of the event were adults.

Another member of the organization, Liz Drew, said many of the people who registered recently relocated to the area. Kay Travette, a 1959 South graduate, also worked in the booth. She said many people simply “just forget” to register.

As the Nov. 6 Election Day approaches, Crawford said Organizing for America will work at several large events in the area. The group also was at Olalla Bluegrass (& beyond) Festival Saturday.

Adults who missed the Back to School Celebration and need to register to vote can fill out paperwork at the guidance office of any SKSD school.

 

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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