00:00Why are you here today? Why do you think it's so important to be at a when we can vote, or when we all vote, when we all vote?
00:10Yes, yes. Why are you here?
00:12When we all vote. Well, I think it's really important to exercise our voice.
00:17And I'm here with my two daughters, so I want them to know that their voice matters, they're important,
00:22and we can make an impact and have a voice and a say in how our future goes.
00:27So I'm here to join the community and also inspire myself and my family.
00:35And how have you always voted since you've been registered to vote, or has voting come lately to you?
00:41I think it was more of a later venture. As a young adult, when I first turned 18, I wasn't as educated on the importance of it.
00:50And so now that I've become a mother, it's changed my life.
00:55And now I really realize that we really need to take the future into our own hands.
01:00Which issues are most critical to you?
01:03All of them. If we could just attain world peace, that would be great.
01:08Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, women's rights is huge.
01:13And on the top of my list, especially with daughters, I can't not do anything and go to bed at night knowing that I'm going to leave the world as it is to my daughter.
01:24So I feel like we have to use every bit of our energy while we're here to make the world a better place for every generation to come.
01:31So are you concerned about Brett Kavanaugh being nominated or being confirmed as a secret report?
01:39I'm actually not even as well educated on that yet. So I need, so you're making me concerned about it.
01:44So yes, I will check into that.
01:46He's been accused of sexual assault.
01:48Oh, yes, I'm concerned.
01:51Very concerned. Yes. Yes. And among, I mean, it's just on the laundry list of concerns.
01:56So, yes.
01:57Well, thank you very much. And what is your name?
01:59Jill Farmer. Jill Farmer.
02:02Jill Farmer.
02:03Yes.
02:04Great. And your daughters are lovely young ladies.
02:09Jenna, why are you here today? Why is it important to be in a voting rally with Mrs. Obama?
02:15Well, I think it's huge just to get out and support, you know, our democracy, our country, and get involved, regardless of what side you're supporting, but use your right to vote.
02:24I personally am a Democrat and love the Obama administration, especially Michelle Obama.
02:29So it's my first opportunity to see her. So it was kind of bringing two things together I believe in.
02:34So that's why I decided to turn up.
02:36And which issues are you most concerned about in midterm elections?
02:40What was your voice heard on?
02:41Well, my biggest issue, I'm a teacher here in Las Vegas, so my biggest issue is education.
02:46In the, you know, climate right now, a lot of it is that I focus on is healthcare and immigration.
02:55Those are the big things I'm focused on.
02:57So I take it you're not a fan of separating children from their parents at the border?
03:01I am not. I am not. Especially as a teacher.
03:04And we have, I mean, you know, we have illegal students in our system that are getting an education.
03:10And whether or not that's right or wrong, but to have them separated from their families, I wholeheartedly believe that that's not the right thing.
03:18Have you always voted?
03:20I have. I have since I was old enough to register.
03:24I was young for my class, so I actually missed my first election with my classmates, so I was a little bummed on that.
03:29But as soon as I was allowed, I did.
03:31What grade do you teach?
03:33I'm a ninth and tenth grade teacher.
03:35Okay, so are you encouraging them to understand about voting even though they're young?
03:42My subject area doesn't really focus on that.
03:45Because it's not part of my subject area, we're not encouraged to talk politics in our classroom.
03:50So it's kind of hard.
03:52I know my friends actually that are coming, that I'm meeting here, one's a principal and one is a social studies teacher.
03:57So that's something they are definitely on board about.
04:00But we have to kind of steer away from it because of the political climate in education.
04:04We're not encouraged to talk to our kids about stances on things.
04:08Right.
04:09Unfortunately.
04:10Well, thank you for voting. I'm glad you're here today.
04:13Alright, thank you.
04:14You're 18. Is this going to be your first time voting?
04:18Um, yes. Yeah. So I just turned 18, so yeah. I'll be voting for the first time, yes.
04:22And have you already registered?
04:24Yes, I have.
04:25Yes. Why is it so important to you to make sure...
04:33Why is it so important to you to vote any mid-term elections?
04:36Um, well, we're learning about it right now in government. So, and I'm like just getting familiar with the process actually.
04:42But I think it's important that, um, by myself as a woman and as such a young individual that I get my voice out there as well and not let everybody else, um, have say and not myself.
04:54I think it's important for everyone that is young to vote.
04:56And are there particular issues that you feel strongly about that you want to make sure your voice is heard a lot?
05:02Um, I don't, I don't...
05:06Um, women's issues?
05:10Definitely, yes.
05:12Definitely, yes.
05:13Do we put up the rights?
05:15Yes, of course. Yes, of course. I don't think that there's any that stand out to me. I think that I, um...
05:22I don't know how to answer this.
05:23Well...
05:24I'm so sorry.
05:25Yeah, would you be concerned, like there's a new, um, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, there's a lot of concern that we all overturn the law that made abortion legal for the country. Is that concerning?
05:35Yes, that is concerning because I, I think that it's important that we all have the rights of our own bodies and to, to have a say in what is done with them. So yes, that's, that's concerning.
05:46And do you feel that, um, how do you feel about immigration? Do you feel that it's wrong what's happening with children being engaged in the borders?
05:55Uh, well, yes, of course. Um, uh, I don't know. I don't have any, I don't know what to say about that. But, of course, yes, it's important.
06:04Are you still in high school?
06:06I am, yeah.
06:07And, um, well, Bernie Sanders, you know, when he was campaigning, talked a lot about, um, free college tuition for all. Do you think that would be something you'd like to see happen?
06:17If it's possible, yes, but I, I'm not sure that, if it doesn't work, then I don't want to, if it, uh, I'm so sorry. Yes, if that's possible, that, that would be cool, but I wouldn't want it to make things worse, you know what I mean?
06:29Right, like the deficit.
06:30Yeah, that, putting the country more in debt wouldn't be, yeah, beneficial to it. I think that that's more important in a way. Does that make sense?
06:39Well, thank you so much. I'm glad you're voting.
06:41Of course. Thank you.
06:43Exciting.
06:44Monisha, why are you here today?
06:45I'm here to support, uh, the, the voting system, and for my kids and education, and I want them to know the importance of voting.
06:54Have you always voted?
06:56Absolutely, since I turned 18.
06:58And why is this midterm election so critical to you, or do you feel it's critical?
07:03I think it's very critical with, um, different issues that are happening right now. Um, I think education is falling behind, and I really want to come out and support,
07:13make sure that, uh, my kids' education is valued.
07:18Do you feel that there should be more funding in public schools?
07:21Oh, absolutely.
07:22And does it concern you that, like, Betsy DeVos' policy is to maybe fund public schools less?
07:30Absolutely. As a teacher, I think, uh, public schools need the funding. Right now, in our state, I'm not quite sure if you know, but, um, due to funding and money,
07:40we're losing teachers in every school. And October 9th, we have three teachers at my personal school that will have to find jobs at a different school because of budget cuts.
07:50And it's terrible because these kids who've made bonds with their classrooms will be moving to new classrooms with new teachers.
07:57And it's really terrible for all of them.
07:59So I take it you'll also be voting, um, for governor as well.
08:03Yes, I will. Absolutely.
08:06And, um, what about, are you concerned about women's rights?
08:11Yes, I am. Um, I think women should have the right to choose, and their choices are important.
08:18And do you feel that the right to choose could be, you know, we could lose that, or at least in many states, if we get Brett Kavanaugh?
08:26Absolutely. I do think that. I do worry about that.
08:30And does it concern you that there's a sexual assault allegation against him?
08:35Yes, I don't think anyone with a sexual assault, um, against him should be in office.
08:40Well, and it's a lifetime appointment, too.
08:42Yes.
08:43Well, thank you so much for talking to me. I'm glad you're voting.
08:47Hi, I'm Bonnie Pollard from Hollywood Life. How are you?
08:50Hello.
08:51Hi, can I interview you while you're here today?
08:54Uh, I'm okay. Sorry.
08:56Oh, you don't want to be an interview?
08:58I'm nervous. I'm shy.
08:59Oh, yeah.
09:02How old are you?
09:03Seventeen.
09:04Um, can't vote yet.
09:05Yeah, no, I'm close.
09:07Yeah, I didn't give them, because I went into 18.
09:09I registered two days ago in peer school.
09:12Oh, great. I'm still awake at the wedding.
09:14It's like being teaching 18 before the mentoring?
09:17No.
09:18Really?
09:19Well, at least you're ready.
09:20Yeah, I'm prepared.
09:22Well, good for you.
09:24And we're all not registered here.
09:26They're all registered?
09:27No, they're not registered.
09:28Oh, no.
09:29Are you the seniors, too?
09:30Um, you guys are all soldiers?
09:33Oh, excuse me, excuse me. Can I interview you, too?
09:37Oh!
09:38Oh, I wish I saw you again.
09:41Oh, okay. I'm from Hollywood Life. It's a website for women.
09:47And I'm here covering the event, and I want to see if I can ask you some questions about why you're here today.
09:53I'm glad you said I can sing it.
09:55And just see the show. Hold on.
09:56Okay, here.
09:57Look at the show.
09:58How the democracy works.
10:00Yeah.
10:01It's our stake in our children's future.
10:03I've said it again and again.
10:05Nothing has really changed.
10:07It still matters.
10:08Yeah.
10:09And I'm not the only one who's traveling around talking about this issue.
10:13My husband.
10:14Trust me, he's been looking forward to putting his feet up, kicking back, and not having to do this again and again and again.
10:32But he's out there.
10:34And we've got a whole slew of community leaders and athletes and celebrities who have been talking about voting.
10:42Again.
10:45Every two years.
10:47We have all kinds of registration drives and rallies like this one.
10:52And thousands of people, like many of you, work your hearts out to get people to the polls on election day.
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