Moving Past the Middle
As the 2018 Midterms approach, the Hillside Chronicle sits down with Mr. Graber-Grace to discuss student voter registration, student engagement, voter apathy, election interference, and gerrymandering in North Carolina. With the 2018 Midterm elections on the radar, North Carolinians all over the state are getting ready for their vote. Efforts to increase voter turnout and power the Blue Wave have been springing all over the country. Democrats are hopeful that the November’s Blue Wave will take Republicans out of power. The Blue Wave is a national effort by Democrats, Blue Wave advocates are hoping for significant pushback against the 2016 Election results, especially Republican hold on power. There is a lot voter apathy and voter restriction in America in general, especially in minority communities. It is important to inform and reignite an interest within students and adults of their voting rights. Efforts to increase voter turnout and spark political interest within the younger generation find a home at Hillside High School. Mr. Graber-Grace is a social studies teacher at Hillside, he has been at Hillside for 9 years. He sat down with the Hillside Chronicle to speak about his experience with student voting measures, student engagement, and his outlook for future elections. Before teaching, Mr. Graber- Grace worked as a community organizer for about six years. He worked on issues, “ranging from affordable housing to better wages for workers…”, knowing that issues he focused on impacted students in various, important ways. Mr. Graber-Grace has made it a personal mission to inform and empower students. He has worked with administration to advance student registration efforts, he let the Hillside Chronicle know staff has shown a receptive response to his efforts. Mr. Graber-Grace stressed the importance of being familiar with the upcoming ballot and the structure of the government. He suggested actions students new to politics may take in order to make a difference this November, “Read about the ballot initiatives-the constitutional amendments, students can get involved and go canvassing for candidates they support…” He stressed the importance of students inspiring political conversation within groups of friends, families, and communities in the midst of the elections. Mr. Graber-Grace ended the interview on an optimistic note, “The best way we can make our democracy healthy is to make sure everybody that is possible, that is eligible to vote, gets to vote. We need to take away barriers to voting, not put more barriers up.” Election day will be Tuesday, November 6. All 120 state House seats and 50 state Senate seats will be up for election. Sheriff and Board of Commissioners seats will be up for election in some counties. Three NC Court of Appeals seats will be up for election, as well as one state Supreme Court seat. Regardless of the outcome, Hillside will be proud to have done its part to get students registered and informed.
