Courtesy Photo Alpena High School students Amelia Berles, Jamie Beaubien, and Noah Frazho man a table encouraging their voting-aged peers to become more informed voters in this picture provided by Alpena High counselor Lori Vought.

ALPENA — Alpena High School students wanted their peers to be informed voters on Tuesday.

For the past couple of weeks, nine high school students have manned a table in the high school commons to provide their voting-aged peers with information on how to vote and where to get nonpartisan information.

Alpena High counselor Lori Vought, who helped supervise the students, said students wanted their peers to know they have a voice in our democracy. Vought said the students initiated a nonpartisan drive to let other students know their vote is important.

“The goal of this was to get the word out on why your vote matters and how to vote from a non-biased source,” sophomore Erin McCourt said. “I helped make posters to put around the school, and at lunch, sat at a table and answered questions.”

While manning the table, McCourt was able to provide her peers with information and answer questions, though most students at the high school are younger than 18.

“I think it turned out well because we at least had one person register, so that’s one more person able to vote, and we still got the message out that voting is important,” she said.

Senior Evan Carlson said he also sat in the commons to provide his peers with voter information, showed them the nonpartisan voter guide, and gave them tools to make their best decision in the high school’s mock election.

“I’m kind of a political person, by nature,” he said. “It’s just, I like doing this type of stuff. No matter who you vote for, it’s important that your voice be heard.”

Carlson said the students were able to bring more awareness to the school-age population as they creep up on that age of being able to vote. He said it’s important students know what to do — because voters in Michigan can vote absentee, can vote early, or can vote in person.

“Really, the options are endless, and we just need to make sure people know their ability to influence the direction of our country,” Carlson said.

Carlson said he would have liked to vote on Tuesday, but he was not 18.

Vought said the drive was about “planting the seed,” so students know they have a voice and they do have a say in American democracy.

“Even though they can’t vote right now, they can educate themselves about issues and become aware of what’s going on in their country, so that, later on, they can vote,” she said.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.