New Hampshire delegate Maura Spiegelman, 18, talks to Scholastic News Reporters (from left) Elizabeth Conway, Molly Wienberg, and Alexandra Conway. Spiegelman was attending an environmental caucus at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)

July 2004—At 18 years of age, New Hampshire delegate Maura Spiegelman was one of the youngest delegates attending the Democratic National Convention in Boston this summer.

Maura registered to vote as soon as she turned 18 and was eligible. That's also when she filed to become a convention delegate. She was one of 60 candidates who filed to fill 33 seats on the New Hampshire delegation.

Each delegate hopeful gave a 30-second speech to win his or her place on the delegation. In her speech, Maura said that "people always talk about wanting younger voters involved in the process and by electing me, this is your chance."

Maura said she is most concerned about affordable health care for Americans. She is thinking ahead to when she is out of college and will no longer be covered by her parents' health insurance, she told Scholastic News Online. She supports John Kerry because one of his campaign promises is to provide affordable, high quality health care and prescription services to all Americans.

Affordable higher education is also an important campaign issue to Maura. She and her twin sister are starting college this fall. Most families cannot afford the cost of a college education, she said. She likes John Kerry's call for a National Education Trust Fund to provide funding for schools. Kerry also plans to offer a College Opportunity Tax credit of up to $4,000 per year if he's elected President.

"It is an honor to represent NH voters," Maura told Scholastic News Online. "They are so proud of their state. [As delegates] we get to rally the troops (Kerry supporters) and get them excited about John Kerry and John Edwards."

Maura believes that it is important for politicians to recognize that many different issues in this year's election are important to young people and their future. She also says that young voters need to pay attention to issues, and talk about the ones that will affect them.

Maura plans to major in political science at Smith College this fall. Her experiences as a delegate at the convention should certainly help her in class discussions!