On April 19 at UW Tacoma, an event titled "Why We Vote" will engage and challenge young voters to answer the question - why do we vote. Why We Vote is geared at getting more young voters to the voting booths and seeks to empower them with knowledge of how the political process works.

The event brings in Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Secretary of State Sam Reed, and a panel of other special guests and experts to open up a discussion about student involvement in Washington state's politics.

"It's an opportunity to get students engaged in and participating in civics and voting and making their communities better," says Strickland.

Why We Vote comes on the tail of Washington's College Civics Week, which runs from April 9-13. College Civics Week is a student-run program founded by Reed in 2005 and geared toward expanding students' understanding of the election and voting processes.

"I think it's important for students to have an opportunity to interact with elected officials and to ask us questions directly," says Strickland of her involvement with the event. "I think it's also important for them to see people and say to themselves - maybe one day I could run for office myself."

"If you think about the history of civil rights in America, it was definitely a movement that was fueled by the activity of young people," she adds.

The Washington Secretary of State office points out a curious dichotomy - college-age students are the most likely age group to seek to serve their communities, but the least likely to vote.

Why We Vote will be held on the University of Washington-Tacoma campus in William H. Philip Hall on Thursday, April 19, from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Entrance is free and open to students and the general public.