by Ina Davis, Promote the Vote, Protect the Vote 2012 Co-Chair

Imagine the scene: a big TV — in front of it, several college freshmen, lounging, laughing, and playing video games. Typical, right? You may have witnessed this scenario in your own home. My desk sits adjacent to the family room. Oftentimes, I’ll be working when a mass of teens walk in, plunk down, and tune in (to the television that is).

I may hurry to wrap up my work, or I might ignore the group and attempt to get more work done. Making oneself invisible in front of a group like this is a skill that has taken years to cultivate and was fine-tuned from the carpooling experience. But you know, as well as I do, that keeping half an ear open is the right of a Mom.

So when I heard one of the boys ask, “What are you doing this weekend?” and another answered, “I have no plans.” — I felt it my civic duty to jump in and ask, “Who’s voting on Saturday?” I couldn’t believe that not one of these young people answered! “Who’s registered?” I asked. Still, I got no response. Even my own son turned to me and said, “Ma, let me finish the game level.”

At this point I closed out all items on my desktop, opened up my internet browser and typed in www.rockthevote.org (all the while, explaining to the group why voting is so critically important). “Okay, who wants to register first, we’ll make this quick.” 

That day I registered five friends. In the following months, every one of them let me know that they had exercised their right to vote; each taking pride knowing that with their vote, they have a voice, and it must be heard.


NCJW is proud to partner with Rock the Vote in our shared effort to register every eligible voter. Visit http://www.ncjw.org/vote and click on the Rock the Vote logo to use the simple online voter registration tool to register new voters — the ones lounging on your couch, and those in your community.