The Vote with a Vet, program will pair veterans with voting age high school students. Veterans will emphasize that Americans are fortunate to have the right to vote and should exercise it. The departments of State, Military and Veterans Affairs and Education will administer the program. All Pennsylvania veterans, past or present, are eligible to participate by completing a biography form. Coy is joining Gov. Tom Ridge is calling on the state's 1.3 million veterans to talk to young people about the importance of voting.
Young people have extremely low voter turnout numbers.
I firmly believe that they, better than any other group, can energize young voters to exercise their right to vote. Their real-life stories of duty, courage and sacrifice will be invaluable to a generation of young people. The high school students will receive biographies from individual veterans that will highlight their military experiences. They also will be encouraged to vote in the Nov. 2 general election. The applications must be returned by Aug. 31.