Imagine being 18 (or nearly 18) years old and having someone like the West Virginia Secretary of State tell you that, at least in one aspect, you are just as powerful as someone like Taylor Swift or the president of the United States.

That’s what local students learned when Secretary Kris Warner visited Parkersburg High School and Wood County Christian School this week to encourage them to register to vote when they are eligible.

“We are all equal in this country,” Warner said. “When we all go to the ballot box, we all have the same rights and opportunities.”

Warner was absolutely right to avoid mentioning his own party affiliation while urging the young people in this audience to read, research, observe — come to their own conclusions about who will represent THEIR beliefs — and then vote accordingly.

“We want them to understand how it works and let them know that it is their right to vote and for them to pick their candidate and to choose who they think will do the best job, whether it is on the national level or the state, county or city level,” said Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales. “We want them to know that we really want their input.”

Of course, we don’t just need new voters to add their voices to the decision-making here in Wood County, we also need poll workers. Our county alone has more than 300 poll worker positions to fill.

But Warner was asking the right bunch.

“They are very civic-minded,” PHS Principal Jason Potts said. “They were very attentive, listened and asked great questions.”

Thank goodness.

Bravo, to those young people who are ready to jump into our political process. We cannot wait to see them make their mark.