AllCutieWants
06-21-2004, 09:33 AM
Holly Maynard (Rochester, NY) -- Register to vote--get free beer. Monroe County Democrats and Republicans came up with the idea to attract younger voters to the polls. It went into practice Friday night at the East End festival where those who were 21 and older and registered to vote also got two small samples of free beer.
The 18-24 age group has the lowest percentage of registered voters and those who subsequently come to the polls. In Monroe County, the age group makes up less than 8 percent of registered voters. Organizers said they expected about 20,000 potential voters to attend.
Mike Graney was just one of dozens who took the county up on its offer. After registering to vote, he tried some beer from High Falls brewery and to get in polling practice--got to vote for the one he liked best.
While Graney is in a hard-to-reach age group, he said was planning to register anyway.
"I actually went to register to vote. The free beer was a nice little extra motivation, but the registering was very important," he said.
However, some people, like Diane Fox-Knoll, disagreed with the plan.
"I would probably say it was a good effort to do it to get people to vote, but maybe use a different tactic other than the alcohol. We just had a slice of pizza. Pizza isn't going to hurt anybody--it's better than alcohol, I think, as far as the kids go," she said.
Those who counsel alcoholics also think the idea sends the wrong message. However, organizers--both Republican and Democrat--disagree.
Andy Moore of the Monroe County Republican Party said, "Certainly if someone doesn't want to try the tasting and wants to register to vote, obviously they're welcome to do that."
Monroe County Democratic chairperson Molly Clifford said, "We are not at all promoting alcohol. We are promoting voting, and promoting political participation."
Democrats and Republicans said they plan to repeat the at the other two East End festivals held this summer and at two Red Wings games.
:!: Man... I wish they would give away money! Id be right down there!
The 18-24 age group has the lowest percentage of registered voters and those who subsequently come to the polls. In Monroe County, the age group makes up less than 8 percent of registered voters. Organizers said they expected about 20,000 potential voters to attend.
Mike Graney was just one of dozens who took the county up on its offer. After registering to vote, he tried some beer from High Falls brewery and to get in polling practice--got to vote for the one he liked best.
While Graney is in a hard-to-reach age group, he said was planning to register anyway.
"I actually went to register to vote. The free beer was a nice little extra motivation, but the registering was very important," he said.
However, some people, like Diane Fox-Knoll, disagreed with the plan.
"I would probably say it was a good effort to do it to get people to vote, but maybe use a different tactic other than the alcohol. We just had a slice of pizza. Pizza isn't going to hurt anybody--it's better than alcohol, I think, as far as the kids go," she said.
Those who counsel alcoholics also think the idea sends the wrong message. However, organizers--both Republican and Democrat--disagree.
Andy Moore of the Monroe County Republican Party said, "Certainly if someone doesn't want to try the tasting and wants to register to vote, obviously they're welcome to do that."
Monroe County Democratic chairperson Molly Clifford said, "We are not at all promoting alcohol. We are promoting voting, and promoting political participation."
Democrats and Republicans said they plan to repeat the at the other two East End festivals held this summer and at two Red Wings games.
:!: Man... I wish they would give away money! Id be right down there!