High School Voter Education Weeks aim to engage students in civic process

High School Voter Education Weeks will be observed across California from April 14 through April 25 to promote civic learning and participation among young people.

Jointly led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, the initiative encourages students who are 16 or 17 years old to pre-register to vote. This allows them to be automatically registered when they turn 18.

Since California launched the pre-registration program in 2016, more than 1.3 million students have taken part, resulting in over 1.1 million eligible voters.

Participating schools are encouraged to host informational activities, share voter registration resources and collaborate with their local county elections offices. The California Secretary of State’s Office provides digital toolkits and information for students, families and educators through its high school and youth initiatives webpage. 

In Orange County, the Registrar of Voters office is partnering with schools and districts to coordinate virtual events that walk students through the voter registration process. Schools interested in inviting a speaker or learning more can request support using an online form provided by the county elections office.

In addition to pre-registration, students may also explore opportunities to serve as poll workers. Under Senate Bill 955, California students in grades six through 12 are allowed one excused absence each year to participate in a civic or political event with advance notice to their school.

Eligible students can pre-register or register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov. Schools and districts are encouraged to share this link with families via newsletters and websites.

For questions about High School Voter Education Weeks or other civic engagement efforts, contact Jannell Jackson, deputy secretary of state for outreach and education, at SOSOutreach@sos.ca.gov or 916-584-3538, or the California Department of Education’s High School Innovations and Initiatives Office at 916-319-0893 or HSIIO@cde.ca.gov.