By Natalie Morales
Enquirer staff writer

DAYTON, Ky. - Recent high school graduates Liz Fossett and Nate Lowry wanted to show teenagers that Voting Rocks.

Left, Scott Furnish and Adam Lovelace both of Dayton, Ky. fill out their voter registration cards. (Enquirer photo/TONY JONES)

So the two 18-year-olds organized a rally at the Dayton YMCA Teen Center Saturday to emphasize the importance of registering to vote.

"We're trying to educate people to teach them that their one vote does make a difference," said Lowry of Taylor Mill, who graduated from Scott High School.

Voting Rocks focused on connecting youth with political ideas through music.

Fifteen bands, four politicians and multiple political youth organizations filled the room, trying to inspire teenagers to be informed and get involved.

Speakers included Covington City Commissioner Alex Edmonson; state Rep. Jon Draud, R-Edgewood; Republican U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Davis; Democratic state Senate candidate Kathy Groob; and a representative for the campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Nick Clooney, a Democrat.

One band, The Frankl Project, sings about sweatshops, war and homelessness, said member Jake Tippey, 17, of Highland Heights.

"Since we can't vote yet, we can still have a voice because we're singing in a band," said drummer Joe Frankl, 14, of Park Hills. "When we can vote, we can have a voice that way, but until then, our voice can come from our band."

The event was nonpartisan. Fossett said she and Lowry, a Covington resident and graduate of Holmes High School, wanted to get teenagers excited about politics and voting and to form their own opinions. The two hoped to draw about 200 to Voting Rocks.

"We'd like to get people interested," Frankl said. "We would like people to try to find out more of what's going on."

Everyone 18 or older at the event was asked to register to vote Lowry said.

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E-mail nmorales@enquirer.com