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Show I Know Procedures of Voting Professor Advises Youths Keynote speaker Dr. Edwin L. Peterson, professor emeritus, Utah State University, Logan, stressed the importance of being knowledgable in voting processes at the 4-H Voter Awareness seminar held at the Tropic LDS Ward, in Tropic, Monday, Sept. 30, 1985. Peterson, originator of the seminar 6eries nine years ago and now it s director has, "traveled all over Utah conducting question and answer series in trying to get young people interested in the governmental and voting process." In the summer of 1975, at the American Legion Utah Boys State, the then Governor, Calvin Hampton, stressed to the young men present the importance of the participation of the Individual citizens of our state in political activity. The students who have been involved in the Voter Awareness program, provided the slogan, "Move Over America...rm 18." Various forms of government were open to citizens of this country said Petertson. The first forms of representative government were found among the people of northern Europe-the "Folkthing" of the Scandinavians and the "Witan" or "to know" group of the Anglo-Saxons, which became the parliament of early Briton, Peterson explained. "The constitutional form of government," said Peterson, "was meant to give the citizens of this country the protection of a series of checks and balances that would be a protection against a take over by any group with overt intentions." "Such checks and balances," he said, "are the executive, legislative and the judicial branches of government." Voter qualifications for Utah include being over 18 years of age and proof of residency. People who have been convicted of treason and convicted prisoncs who are serving in penal institituions are not permitted to vote. Mental Incompetents and those judged insane are also restricted from voting. Monday's seminar Included discussing among the 33 high school seniors, two juniors and 15 adults. The students came from, the three high schools in the district: Bryce Valley, Escalante, and Panguitch. I The seminar was kicked off at 9 a.m. with Michelle Simons, Escalante; and Rochelle Proctor and Eilene McKee, Panguitch acting as Garfield County 4-H Ambassadors and conducting the various meetings. Subjects discussed included the federal government chaired by Jeanlne Holt, representative for Utah Senators Jake Gam and Orrin Hatrch; state government under the direction of State Representative Jim Yardley of District 73; and Garfield County Commissioner Guy rhompson and County ClerkAuditor Hazel Houston handled the discussion on county government. Tropic Mayor Ella Adair represented city government, while Utah Highway patrol Trooper Craig Twitchell discussed police and courts. Elaine Baldwin, chairperson of the Garfield County Republican Committee fielded questions and discussed political parties. Peterson was the keynote speaker and left the students with words of caution in the voting process and with words of encouragement to become involved, saying," it you don't exercise your voting franchise, someone else will do it for you and you may not like the results. Peterson left with this remelnder," What is Americanism? tt does not mean the same thing to ill people who enjoy its benefits. It nay mean freedom of worship - the :hance to worship in the church of our choice. It may mean freedom f expression - the opportunity to vrite or say what you feel. It may nean freedom of choice to choose our own political party, your own sandicdate for office, your own itore, or your own school. Vmericanism is these things and nuch more. It is the accumulation of enefits derived from the human ibertles that Americans enjoy. It is he difference between "must" and 'May." It is the United States Constitution that has forged our heritage ind given us a legacy of liberty that ve Americans are continually asked o vindicate." |