This month, voters will make their way to the polls in California for the Presidential Primary Election. Months later they will return for the General Election in November.
According to the California Secretary of State’s voter registration reports, Santa Clara County had more than one million registered voters as of February 2023. More than 130,000 young people ages 17.5 to 25 years old were registered voters in the county. California youth have a role in democracy by helping to choose those who will lead and by voicing their opinions on matters that are important to them and their communities.
When young people are civically engaged and make voting a habit, they can be a powerful force in elections. That’s why students across the county and state are encouraged to learn about voter registration during High School Voter Education Weeks. During the last two weeks of April and September, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters visit high schools to assist students in learning about voter registration and pre-registration. Last September, five high schools were visited with eight presentations given. Two lunchtime voter registration drives resulted in 41 students registered.
When students see their peers actively participating, they are more likely to engage in the same positive activities. While registration drives invite 16 and 17-year-old students to pre-register so they can vote at 18, youth have a variety of pathways to engage in democracy early on.
To engage students in voting, educators can consider having their classrooms participate in the California Student Mock Election. Students learn about candidates and issues as they discover how government and politics affect their lives. Guides for educators are available at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/studentmockelection
With the passage of Senate Bill 955 in 2022, students in grades 6-12 are allowed to have one excused absence per year to participate in a civic or political event, provided they notify the school. Students aged 16, who are US citizens, maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA), and have parent/guardian and school permission can become student poll workers on Election Day. Students are eligible for a stipend ranging from $65 to $180.
Bringing children to poll locations is one way to introduce them to voting. Another is to explain the meaning behind the “I Voted” sticker. This small sticker displays pride in exercising a fundamental, constitutional right, and deepens a sense of community while promoting voting culture. Help children learn what goes into an election by reviewing a sample ballot or campaign materials together and discussing how you make choices.
Introductions to civic engagement can happen at any age.
Adults must help youth understand their role in our democracy and how critical it is to participate.