Quick look: High School Voter Education Weeks will take place Sept. 14 through Sept. 25, encouraging California students to learn about elections and eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote. Schools can also register for the statewide Student Mock Election set for Oct. 6.
High School Voter Education Weeks will return across California next week, giving schools another opportunity to promote civic learning and encourage eligible students to preregister to vote.
The statewide initiative will run from Monday, Sept. 14, through Friday, Sept. 25. Led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, the effort encourages high schools to raise civic awareness and help students ages 16 and 17 preregister to vote.
Preregistration allows eligible students to complete the registration process before they turn 18, with their registration becoming active once they reach voting age.
Since California launched its preregistration program in 2016, more than 1.5 million students have preregistered, resulting in more than 1.2 million eligible voters, according to the California Department of Education.
Schools can participate by hosting voter registration or preregistration drives and incorporating other civic engagement activities. Eligible students can preregister online through the state’s voter registration website at registertovote.ca.gov.
Student Mock Election set for Oct. 6
Another statewide opportunity will follow shortly after Voter Education Weeks.
The 2026 California Student Mock Election will take place Tuesday, Oct. 6, offering students a hands-on way to learn about voting and the election process. Participating schools will conduct their own mock elections, with students able to compare their results with those of their peers across California.
Schools have until Sept. 30 to register for the program through the California Secretary of State’s Student Mock Election webpage.
Students can also explore opportunities to serve as poll workers. Under state law, students in grades six through 12 may receive one excused absence per year to participate in a civic or political event with prior notice.
Additional toolkits, classroom materials and information about youth civic engagement opportunities are available through the Secretary of State’s High School and Youth Initiatives webpage.
For questions about High School Voter Education Weeks or other student civic engagement opportunities, contact the Secretary of State’s Outreach and Education team at SOSOutreach@sos.ca.gov or 916-584-3538, or the California Department of Education’s High School Innovations and Initiatives Office at HSIIO@cde.ca.gov or 916-319-0893.