You've got to be 18 to make your way to the polls -- but that hasn't stopped a group of middle-schoolers from Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy from spreading the word about Americans' election day civic duty: the group has created a song about voting that's turned into a YouTube sensation.
No matter who you support for president, the ability to vote is one of the most important rights granted to all American citizens. Unfortunately, you’ve got to be 18 to make your way to the polls—but that hasn’t stopped a group of middle-schoolers from Atlanta’s Ron Clark Academy from spreading the word about Americans’ election day civic duty: the group has created a song about voting that’s turned into a YouTube sensation.
The students’ teacher helped them to create the song, “You Can Vote However You Like,” which featured the tune of a popular rap song, and rewritten lyrics featuring facts about the contrasting policies of Barack Obama and John McCain, and the recurring refrain, “Obama on the left, McCain on the right. We can talk politics all night. Hey, you can vote however you like.”
The students were invited to perform their song at a local community event, and thrilled the small crowd with their pro-voting song and smooth dance moves. They didn’t realize that anyone in the crowd had a camera, but the next day, a video of the event was on YouTube—and it’s now received nearly a million views.
The kids aren’t letting their newfound fame get to their heads, however—they’re just happy to be spreading such an important message. The students believe in the power of voting, and want to share it with the world.
“It’s your future, it’s your opportunity to make a change in what’s going on,” one of the students, twelve-year-old Ossei Avril, told ABC News. “So, if you don’t vote, then there’s basically no purpose for you to be here.”
Watch the video here. (And go vote!)