Cape Girardeau Central High School students were introduced to the election process during a special program Thursday.

Librarian Julia Jorgensen explained the voting process and registered eligible students for upcoming elections throughout the day. Students learned about the differences between Tuesday's primary election and municipal elections scheduled for April 4. They also were allowed to practice walking into a polling station, show proper identification, and request a ballot.

Jorgensen, a member of Vision 2000, said the program was held to make the first voting experience for students less intimidating and to continue a Vision 2000 drive to get more voters registered for the April 4 election.

The last day to register for that election is Wednesday.

"Since this in an area where they are very comfortable, we hope that will carry over to that first vote," she said. "That first voting experience can be a scary thing."

Students who registered Thursday were told they would be eligible to vote in April elections, but Jorgensen said the program was not held to influence students to vote for the school district's bond issue proposal.

"We are just an information body," she said. "I do tell them it will be one of the issues on the ballot, but I really don't think it's appropriate for me to push that."

Students had the most questions about next week's presidential primary election because it is conducted differently than other types of elections. A good amount of time was spent explaining to students that some candidates' names that will appear on the ballots had already withdrawn from the election.

"I do want them to know that's the case, but I'm not telling them who dropped out because I'm expecting them to be well-informed," said Jorgensen.

Despite "phenomenal" voter registration results at the school and in the community, Jorgensen said getting a person registered doesn't guarantee they'll actually exercise their right at the polls. She cited last month's election for which only 4 percent, or 852 votes, were cast for a city sewer bond issue proposal.

"Quite frankly, our record about voter registration in Cape Girardeau are phenomenal, but every particular election is a different thing," said Jorgensen. "All you can do is get them registered and try to make them familiar with the process. The rest is up to the individual."