To boost young voters’ motivation Forward Wyoming is hosting the first Millennial Voter Bloc(k) Party at the Train Depot in Downtown Laramie Friday, September 21.
Forward Wyoming (FW) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 2015 with Executive Director LeeAnn Grapes at the helm.
“One of the goals of the FW is to be a force of change in destigmatizing the term millennial,” said Grapes. “A lot of what we don’t like about it is what the older generation has labeled the younger generation as. We hear lazy, self-interested, entitled and the list goes on and on. We are trying to redefine the term, otherwise, we are just letting older folks define our story and what we are about.”
Forward Wyoming as a force of change
According to FW’s website, the “mission is to educate, organize and mobilize the next generation of active citizens and young leaders for a better future for Wyoming.”
The creation of FW began after the 2014 election where there was the lowest voter turnout since World War II.
After spending time working on campaigns in Wyoming during the 2014 election season Grapes felt there was something she could do to boost the voter numbers, specifically within her own generation.
A lot of people do not know the voting requirements in Wyoming and this may be holding several eligible voters back, especially students who attend colleges throughout the state.
“There are 4 requirements for voting in Wyoming,” said Grapes. “You have to be 18 on election day, need to be a US citizen, if you have received a felony you must have your voting rights restored and finally you must have a residential address in Wyoming. There is nothing saying that you have had to here for a certain amount of time.”
The main event
FW Field Organizer Sydney Edwards is the lead organizer of the event and is enthusiastic about the progression of the evening as the Millennial Voter Bloc(k) Party takes flight.
“The ultimate goal is to create a different atmosphere for people in the political sense,” said Edwards. “Usually when we see an event and it is politically driven and you really don’t care about the candidate or the policy you will not go. So we are trying to take that out of the equation. The whole goal is to get people to vote.”
The party is set to be a night of socializing and educating the generation known as millennials, currently people ranging in age from 19 to 36. The event will begin at the train depot where the county clerk will be available to get folks registered.
There will also be small campfires set up throughout the Depot parking lot and s’more fixings will be handed out to the attendees for their enjoyment. While at the event it is encouraged that you reach out on social media. FW created a Snapchat filter.
The focus of the night is to create an opportunity where people can ask questions and become educated on the importance of committing to vote while enjoying the amenities.
While anyone and everyone are invited to participate in the event, the target audience is those who are less likely to be educated about the voting laws in Wyoming.
In this year’s elections, it is projected that a mere 15 percent of those under 36, and who are eligible to, are expected to vote. The Millennial Bloc(k) Party is an event where this statistic can be improved.
Committing to vote
FW tables at events throughout Laramie and Cheyenne. The next tabling is at the Farmers Market before the block party on Friday. At their table, you can find what FW calls commit to vote cards.
The commit to vote card is meant to be an aid in preparing people for participation in voting. To begin, you fill out the card with your name, current residence address and fill a space where you write why you have committed to vote whether it be because of specific policies in Wyoming or simply because it is your duty or right.
Prior to the time of election season, the card is sent back to you along with a packet including the list of candidates and information of where you go to vote. This helps to make the voting process a simple one.
“I think [the commit to vote] cards are nice, especially for me, because being from Colorado I am able to gain access to information about how I can vote here in Wyoming,” said Abigail Hobbs, a UW student.
The future of Forward Wyoming
The FW team is launching a new page on their website where people can research all candidates throughout Wyoming. This is the time for us to get involved in our communities in Wyoming and FW is a great place to begin so head to the block party and be a force of change.
