More than a million students in the state have pre-registered to vote through the High School Voter Education Weeks initiative, which was established in 2016.
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are convening to remind young people about the significant power they have in shaping their future ahead of the program, which spans Sept. 18 through Sept. 29 and again next year in the final two weeks of April.
Its mission is to provide an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with county election officials to promote civic education and participation on campus, while fostering an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens.
Students ages 16 and 17 in the state can pre-register to vote, making them automatically eligible to vote as soon as they turn 18 years old.
In collaboration with the state, the Orange County Registrar of Voters office is looking forward to holding virtual events with partnering high school campuses and districts, where students will learn about the registration and election process.
The office is also extending an invitation to high school students and educators to tour its voting center in Santa Ana, where they can participate in a mock election and get a behind-the-scenes look at how votes are processed. Community groups and organizations are encouraged to complete a request form on the Registrar of Voters’ website to request tours, speaker engagements and outreach opportunities.
Students can pre-register to vote on the California Secretary of State Online Voter Registration web page at https://registertovote.ca.gov/.
If you have any questions about High School Voter Education Weeks or other civic engagement opportunities led by the state, contact Deputy Secretary of State Outreach and Education Jannell Jackson at SoSOutreach@sos.ca.gov or 916-584-3538.