High school hallways are some of the busiest spaces in the community, and the League's Voter Services Committee (VSC) has experienced those traffic patterns during their voter registration sessions. With invitations from administrators and Social Studies teachers in McLean County high schools, VSC members enter those hallways and help eligible students check their registration status or register to vote by using the Vote 411 QR code. Students use their phones to easily access the site and enter their information. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes and students walk away with voting stickers, candy, and a great feeling.
Positivity is the best way to describe what our members experience during those connections. From the moment we enter the school, students greet us with enthusiasm, interest and respect for what they can learn from us. Likewise, we've learned that these young people are eager to engage in the democratic process. Many of the students we interact with have also committed to being a Student Election Judge: for example, over 40 students at Normal West High School and 11 at Heyworth High School. Teachers John Bierbaum at Normal West and Ryan Lawler at Heyworth are responsible for generating this interest among their students. From Bierbaum's Voting Initiative Program to Lawler's Every Tuesday We Vote project, these educators are offering their students real world experiences that show them how they can make a difference in policy making.
In Illinois, eligible voters may pre-register to vote when they turn 16 or register when they are 17 years old. Many students have pre-registered when they get their driver's license but they have forgotten they did so, while others do not have a driver's license or chose not to pre-register. We guide them through the process and teach them how they can help their peers using the same Vote411 tool.
Our League is committed to providing opportunities to young voters from voter registration to developing a student ambassador program. We will soon head to Bloomington High School, and are scheduling sessions with other McLean County high schools.
If you are interested in learning more about student ambassadors, we hope you attend the meeting on February 26 at the Bloomington Public Library at 6 PM (see story about the meeting elsewhere in this Voter.)
Photo Album~High School Students Register