An ISU student is trying to encourage Iowa’s numerous young nonvoters to get started in the political process earlier.

Angela Groh, sophomore in political science, was one of more than 100 students from across the country who attended the Young Voters Summit in Washington, D.C., last week.

The daylong summit, hosted by the National Association of Secretaries of State, was held to address issues keeping tens of millions of younger people throughout the nation from voting.

“Historically here in the Midwest, participation of 18- to 24-year-olds has been very low,” said Iowa Secretary of State Spokesman Chris Ludlow.

The participation is so low in Iowa that the number of young Iowans not voting can be counted in the hundreds of thousands, he said.

Currently, only 15 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds across the country are actually voting, according to figures provided by the Secretary of State’s Office, he said. The main reasons youth are not going to polls and voting are lack of information and access to candidates, Ludlow said.

At the Washington summit, youth involvement in voting and registration was the main focus, and panels were held on the latest research concerning young adults, voting and successful state youth outreach programs. There was also a congressional panel on a new federal election reform law.

Each secretary of state was asked to sponsor at least one young person from his or her home state to attend the meeting.

Groh was chosen along with University of Iowa student Eric Bagley to accompany Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver to the summit.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Groh, Government of the Student Body director of government relations. “I was very honored to be asked.”

Groh has years of experience in getting students involved in politics, she said. As a senior in high school, she worked closely with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office on youth issues, an opportunity that allowed her to get to know state officials.

Groh also helped pass a bill into law that placed a student on the state board of education.

“Everything that I’ll need to know in politics I can learn hands-on,” Groh said.

She said the best way to get involved in politics is to start small, by participating in hall councils or any type of leadership role.

At the summit, Groh was able to discuss ideas for increasing the number of young adult voters with other youth and government officials.

One idea raised was passing laws that would allow 17-year-olds in Iowa to vote for the school board and be able to work at polls. Groh said the earlier young adults are involved and the more experience they have in voting, the more likely they will be to continue voting.

Using voting machines for high school elections was another idea that would allow students to become familiar with the machines and give them confidence in a real voting situation.

Holding a government job shadow day for Iowa youth was another idea.

“Not only would this serve to get students involved in the legislative process, but it would inform them of job opportunities in the state and possibly keep students in Iowa,” Groh said.