Webster County community encourages young, future voters

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It is a rite of passage–turning 18 and casting that first vote.

One community starts a lot earlier, emphasizing the importance of voting and of supporting the winning candidates.

Webster County has a tradition of sorts that gets even the youngest of kids involved with local politics.

They said it’s a tradition that goes back decades.

Folks both young and old gathered outside the Webster County Courthouse Tuesday night– eagerly waiting for election results.

Attendees said it’s something they do every election year.

“Yeah, it’s been going on for many, many years. I remember as a kid, it was on Main Street in Eupora. It was moved out here to Walthal I’d say about fifteen years or so ago. It’s been going on for many, many years in Webster County,” said voter Charles McClellan.

“They would have music, the kids would play, and our parents would always talk to us about why we were there, the election results, so we knew what was going on, but it was a good time, too,” said Eupora High School teacher Jeannie Davis.

Davis teaches 6th grade English and language arts.

She said she’s passing along the election day tradition to her children as well.

“I have twins. They’re in first grade, and I took them yesterday with me when I voted,’ said Davis.

She said she often talks about local elections with her students.

“I have lots of children who have asked me, who are you voting for, do you know this person is running or that person, some of it is because they’re related to them,” said Davis.

Students like 6th grader Logan Rico.

Rico was also at the Webster County Courthouse Tuesday night. He said he has an interest in politics.

“Well, I just like politics, and I wanted to see who was going to be the next Sheriff of Webster County,” said Rico.

“Why do you care about local politics,” said WCBI Reporter Cash Matlock.

“Because I”m a citizen of Webster County,” said Rico.

Instead of pursuing a career in politics like his uncle “Poochie,” the District 3 Supervisor, Rico has other plans.

“Yes, I do want to be a journalist. I want to be on The Today Show,” said Rico.

Community members said they hope more young people will take an interest in local politics.

“We hope that the young people will realize the importance of going out and voting because it is important for our young people to go out and vote because they’re our future generation. We want them to realize how important it is to vote and be involved in local politics,” said McClellan.

According to research by students at Tufts University, a record number of young voters came out to the polls in the 2018 midterm elections.