In a bid to empower young voices and foster civic engagement, High School Voter Education Weeks is set to commence across the state from April 15 through April 26.
Led by Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, High School Voter Education Weeks occurs annually over the last two full weeks in April and September, reminding students of the significant power they hold in influencing democratic processes.
Students ages 16 to 17 in the state are encouraged to pre-register to vote, making them automatically eligible to vote as soon as they turn 18 years old. State officials say registering young people in advance has proven successful in fostering an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens. Since the program began in 2016, over a million students have pre-registered to vote.
In collaboration with the state, the Orange County Registrar of Voters office is looking to hold virtual events with partnering high school campuses and districts, where interested students will learn about the registration and election process. Interested school and district administrators are encouraged to reach out to the office and fill out a short online form to request for speakers.
If you have any questions about High School Voter Education Weeks or other civic engagement opportunities, 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.
