Pocono News Section

Vote with a vet

Vote with a vet - Friday, July 11, 2008 at 6:07PM EST

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 @ 06:07pm EST

Our military has protected our right to vote for many years.

A new program in Pennsylvania is aiming to honor them, and help young voters get involved.

Cynthia Slebodnik lost her son, Sergeant Eric Slebodnik, to the war in Iraq .

But a new voter registration program, could help carry on his name.

Slebodnik, says, "They had a voice at one time. I think that they would want to know that they're voice is being heard."

The program, called vote with a vet, helps honor the name of a living, or fallen serviceman.

It targets high schoolers, in hopes they'll cast a vote when legal age.

Next month, the bureau of elections will send veteran biography forms to all state veterans affairs offices.

They'll be passed to high schoolers, who can cast a mock vote, in the name of that vet.

Slebodnik says, "I'd want the person to vote the way eric would vote."

The Pennsylvania department of state says young voter registration has declined over the past few years.

This program is geared to help change that, and recognize those who protect our right to vote.

Cynthia Slebodnik says it's something her son would be proud of.

She says, “They want to make sure that their voice is heard, even if they're not around to be heard. And i can't vote twice."

But the vote with a vet program will make sure her son, and other fallen servicemen, are saluted.

T o learn more about the vote with a vet program, visit the Deparment of State website:

Then click on the commissions, elections, and legislations link.

Finally, click the Vote with a Vet option.