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ALBANY, GA -- Some citizens in the Ward 6 neighborhood came out to a voter registration drive earlier Friday evening, and they were surprised to learn that the gentleman holding the registration drive wasn’t even running for office, Roderick Jolivette.

“It's important because we're built on democracy and if you don’t let your vote be heard then you're not going to be making any decisions as to the economy, education, them types of things,” says Jolivette.

He’s spreading this message of the importance of voting to people he knows in the neighborhood.

“That's why things not getting did because certain candidates say they do this and some say they do that and when they don't vote for the person that wants to do this it makes a difference,” says Barbara Nix, who attended the voter registration drive to submit her change of address.

For Julius Williams, 26, it was the first time he registered to vote.

“Why I ain't registered yet? That's a good question, I don't even know myself,” says Julius.

Jolivette is held this voter registration drive because, as a political science graduate, he’s passionate about politics, and he also wanted to provide a convenience to those in the neighborhood who haven’t had a change to register.

“A lot of people with the economic times and all don't have cars or vehicles and they want to be a part of the election process so what we're doing is offering a registration drive in this area to help those people out,” says Jolivette.

While he’s helping everyone in his neighborhood register, he’s especially encouraging one particular group: the youth.

“It's the right thing to do. We need young folks,” says Williams.

Jolivette also invited the Ward 6 commissioner candidates to speak immediately following the registration drive to speak about their platforms.

“A lot of times people don't know who they're voting for and what they're voting for so we're giving the candidates that are participating an opportunity to present their platform to let the citizens know what they stand for,” says Jolivette.

The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 8, 2011, election is Oct. 11.