091025...R YSU VOTER 5...Youngstown...09-10-25...Julie Downie of Poland, volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Ohio, right, assists YSU student Madilynn (correct) Kreps, 18, of Austintown, with filling out a voter registration form...by R. Michael Semple

YOUNGSTOWN — A number of Youngstown State University students registered to vote for the first time thanks to a League of Women Voters of Ohio drive to get younger people interested in the election process.

The league had its “Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power” Airstream trailer near Kilcawley Center on the YSU campus Wednesday.

“We’re answering questions students have about the democratic process, registering to vote and making sure they have a plan to get to the polls on or before Nov. 4,” said Trevor Martin, the league’s program coordinator.

Turnout for this year’s general election is expected to be low because candidates on the ballot are running for local seats such as township trustee, school board member, and village and city council members.

Even so, Martin said, “I have been pleasantly surprised by the engagement and the enthusiasm we’re seeing. I’ve found there’s a lot more interest in local governance. It’s apparent that students recognize that we are in a special political moment in time and they’re looking more locally, especially with school boards and public funding for schools and libraries.”

Among those registering Wednesday was Denyanna Carpenter of Youngstown.

“My vote counts,” she said. “I need to participate more and people my age need to participate more in elections. There’s not enough of us voting. The more we participate, the more our voices are heard.”

She registered with her friend Natalyah Scrutchins of Youngstown.

“Local races are important,” Scrutchins said. “It matters who we vote for. I certainly don’t like our president now and the USA needs a change, a real change for the better.”

Marissa Mountz of Salem is 17 years old, but will turn 18 before the election so she registered to vote Wednesday.

“Local elections are important,” she said. “Our local laws are as important as our federal laws. I’m excited to vote for the first time because I’ll now have a voice in issues.”

Martin said the league is traveling to more than 25 colleges and universities in the state — YSU was his 10th school — to get students engaged in the election process.

Martin said he’s answered a lot of questions from students about the election process.

“I’m hearing a lot of issues and concerns that harken to our founding days as a nation such as free speech, voting rights, the right to protest and assemble,” he said. “A lot of the messiness and bickering on the national stage leaves students feeling that our representatives are maybe out of touch with the concerns and issues that matter to them the most. They’re coming out and registering and making their voices heard.”

He added: “Students feel that they’re being left behind and their opinions don’t matter. We want them to know, hey, we hear you and we want you to be engaged. Democracy works best when you have more participation.”

Lisa Lee Kohler, president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown, said she was registering young voters “and defending democracy. We’re answering a lot of questions. Students have a lot of questions about how they vote, do they have to register more than once, some are not sure if they’re registered. They want to get involved and stay involved and understand the importance of voting and making their voices heard. They understand their voice is their power.”

She added: “What we’re not doing is talking about political parties and political candidates. We’re guiding them on where to vote and where they can get information about candidates.”