OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed five voting and election laws on Monday. He held the signing ceremony in Tukwila, where more than 84 languages are spoken in the school district and the young people want their voice to be heard.
“For me, it is important to vote because I have opinions. I want change, and I want to make a difference with my voice,” said Foster High School senior Maria Alvarez to a crowd gathered inside the school
With the students looking on, Inslee cheerfully signed legislation making it now possible for them to pre-register to vote as soon as they are 16 years old.
“I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure my voice and my opinion and my tragedies and my strengths are out there. So, people know that we have a voice,” said Andre Jones.
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The City of Tukwila is one of the most racially diverse cities in the state, home to many immigrants and refugees.
But that diversity is not reflected on the school board.
“That's what inspired me to run and see if I can make that difference, said Ubah Aden.
The mother of three came to the U.S. from Somalia as a teenager. She lost her bid for Tukwila School board last fall.
Today, she was on stage with Inslee, after helping to pass the new law that allows local governments like Tukwila's to change from citywide elections to elections based on neighborhood districts.
“It will mean communities and specific districts to choose who they think that can represent them better, who knows their needs and who understands what matters to them,” she said.
In a bid to increase voter turnout, the governor also signed legislation allowing citizens to register and vote on Election Day.
“The course of democracy makes the sweetest music when it swells with the most voices,” he said.
Cox Media Group
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