Youth Outreach in the 1998 Elections

How You Can Run with the Big Dogs

By Holly, Richele, Heather, and April - the YO Divas

This time of the year is significant for two reasons. It's back to school time for college and high school students all over the country, and it's also crunch time for the November 3 elections. Most people wouldn't think these two had anything in common. But, au contraire, they do! How, you may ask. Hold your horses. We're getting there. Y'know, patience is a virtue.

Let's face it, Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned tomorrow. But that doesn't mean all is lost, that we should pack up and go home. We have the opportunity to enact pro-life legislation at the state and federal levels. Thus, we should hunker down and get ready for the long haul. How, you again may ask. Well, let us enlighten you.

By now the primaries are over and the general election is approaching like midterm (see story, page 8). And, just like the authors of this wonderful article, you think you can wait until the last minute to get the job done.

Au contraire, little tiger, it's time to wake up and smell the half-decaf, no foam, little cinnamon, vanilla-flavored latte. If you are old enough to vote, do so. If you're not old enough to vote, there is still a lot you can do to help get out the pro- life message. So, without further ado, here is a list of ways you can combine your youthful enthusiasm and your concern for the unborn to help elect a pro-life 106th Congress. Only then will we be able to override President Clinton's veto on the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and his expected veto of the Child Custody Protection Act. Essentially, the fruits of your labor can help to counteract the liberalization of abortion laws under President Clinton.

Get involved in the VOTE '98 project. VOTE '98 is a unique education and registration tool. By operating a VOTE '98 booth, you can keep the pro-life community informed on the issues of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. Just give us a call at 202-626-8800, ext. 209, and we'll send you a VOTE '98 kit that includes brochures, copies of NRL News, registration information, and everything else you'll need to launch VOTE '98 on your campus and in your community.

Volunteer for the campaign of a pro-life candidate. There are many different things you can do and candidates need a lot of help. For example, put up yard signs, pass out literature, make phone calls, go door-knocking, or simply get coffee.

Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. This is an easy but extremely powerful way to promote pro-life issues and candidates. This is a useful tool in educating people on the positions of different candidates. Many reporters now have e- mail addresses where they "talk" with interested readers. Be sure to take advantage of this golden opportunity. Thanks to the freedom of speech that we all still enjoy, you can also praise or criticize your congressman on his or her voting records regarding life issues.

Volunteer to help out with projects for your local right to life group. At this time right to life groups are usually very busy. There is so much to do to get the pro-life word out and they need all the help and support they can get.

These are just a few examples of things you can do to help out in the election cycle. But the word here is DO! Just because you may not be old enough to vote or because you thought you're not old enough to participate, is no reason not to be involved today. What you do today affects your tomorrow.

For those of you that are old enough to vote, this is a rare and precious gift. We live in a democratic society where an 18-year- old has the same influence over an election that a 50-year-old has. If you want a better place to live in and have your own children grow up in, then we suggest you get up and be counted!

If you would like to get involved, please feel free to give us a call at (202) 626-8800 ext. 209 or e-mail us at NCSL@juno.com.