Girl Scouts Get Out the Vote Event Set for October 27

As the momentum of mid-term elections builds, the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA) is sharing the power of voting and a dedication to civic engagement through a special event. Girl Scouts Get Out the Vote will take place on Saturday, October 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Town Mall located at 7600 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, in front of JCPenney and the new children’s play area.

 

The event will offer a fun day of engagement, encouraging kids and teens that they have a voice, can support a cause they believe in and make a difference through voting.

 

Families can drop in at any time during the event to cast their vote for the issues most important to them. There will be separate voting stations for parents and for children. This event will provide an opportunity for open dialogue within families to discuss how voting can impact policies and laws. The goal is for kids and teens to see how values can vary across groups of people and ages. The results will then be shared on social media.

 

Those who vote will receive a “My Vote Counts!” sticker and other free giveaways like bracelets and pens. Current Girl Scouts will also receive a patch for participating.

 

The event seeks to highlight the lack of young voters during elections and to encourage civic engagement. According to the United States Census data from the Pew Research Center, voting rates have historically varied according to age, with older Americans generally voting at higher rates than younger Americans. In the 2012 election, Millennials and Baby Boomers were both 31 percent of the overall electorate, but voters between the ages of 18 and 29 made up just 19 percent of voters—which is half the share of Baby Boomers at 38 percent.

 

No matter political beliefs, the Girl Scouts Get Out the Vote event will demonstrate why it’s critical to raise future voters with courage, confidence and character. By not voting, citizens fail to participate in one of the most effective ways to impact their communities.

 

Civic engagement is a topic that Girl Scouts, as an organization, holds at its core. Girl Scouts use their determination to fight for a clean environment, racial and gender equity, safety issues, local concerns and much more, creating a lasting legacy of civic action in America.

 

Lynne Fugate, chief executive officer of GSCSA, believes this event will help girls understand they possess the power to advocate for positive change in their own communities.

 

“Every girl has a voice and can stand up against everyday injustices and issues,” said Fugate. “Through the Girl Scouts Gold Award projects, we see girls tackle a broad spectrum of important issues like green energy, STEM education or ending violence against women. We hope Girl Scouts Get Out the Vote will encourage more young girls to be active members in their communities and to be active voters.”

 

The event taking place in East Tennessee also has significant meaning as McMinn County provided the deciding vote to grant women across the country the right to vote—the culmination of more than 100 years of women’s efforts. Also, the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial, located at Market Square in downtown Knoxville, honors the women who campaigned for the state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. One of the three women, Lizzie Crozer French, was from Knoxville.

 

“East Tennessee and Knoxville played a critical role in the women’s suffrage movement,” said Fugate. “We value the women that fought for that cause so that today, we can host this event encouraging young girls and teens to take advantage of this right that took many years to achieve.”

 

The Girl Scouts Get Out of the Vote event is free and open to the public. More information on this event can be found on Facebook at https://bit.ly/2EiaiJc.