Granville students' pledge: Will run for votes

Though they aren't old enough to vote, a group of six students from Granville Central High hopes to make a big difference in this year's election. Two teachers are leading the non-partisan cause.

Posted 12:20 p.m. Jun 12, 2008 — Updated 2:20 p.m. Oct 17, 2011

STEM, N.C. — Though they aren't old enough to vote, a group of six students from Granville Central High School hopes to make a big difference in this year's election.

In an effort to boost voter turnout, they are pledging to run in every state in the continental United States. Teachers Jonathon Williams and Diane Hineline are leading the non-partisan effort called “Run to Vote."

“We are trying to sign people up to get people out in this very important 2008 election,” Williams said.

“And if they are already registered, (we want) to get them to pledge to vote in the election,” Hineline added.

The group plans to drive to each state in the continental U.S. for a registration rally. For every person they register to vote, someone in the group will run a quarter-mile. Their goal is to register 200 people per stop.

Stephanie Sutherland said she is thrilled about the adventure.

“I want to see the other side of the country,” she said.

Ian Morris said his parents took some convincing to allow him to go on the two-month trek. He won them over, though.

“They trust the teachers and they trust what I’m doing is worthwhile,” he said.

The group’s route is plotted on their Web site, runtovote.com, but they've hit some roadblocks. They've raised some money, but not enough. Until recently, they still had no vehicle to make the trip.

“So, I actually ended up taking pretty much all of my savings and buying a van that we can take with the intention of selling it at the end of the summer,” Hineline said. “Living here in the United States, we take for granted a lot of times the lifestyle that we have, and I think we all have to do something to protect that lifestyle.”

The group kicks off the trip Saturday with a voter registration rally in Raleigh at Fleet Feet Sports on Wade Avenue.

The Run to Vote crew will chronicle their trip with live blogs on GOLO – WRAL.com's online community.

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