HIGH SCHOOL PAGE

Many high school students don't realize that they can vote if they turn 18 on or before the election date, Nov. 2, 2004. They can register now and vote on that day!

The fall presents many opportunities for registration and voter education at high schools. Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Orientation and registration: Set up a table to register both parents and students during registration for classes. Parents need to re-register if they've moved; students turning 18 on or before Nov. 2, 2004 can register. If you don't know how to register voters, contact your local elections office (usually a county office), the secretary of state's office (in Sacramento or your local county), your local League of Women Voters office, or the political party of your choice for training.

2. Senior assemblies and classroom presentations: Many schools will be having assemblies in the fall to explain procedures for the senior year, including college applications and graduation. It's the perfect time to do voter education! Contact the history or civics teachers in your school, the PTA, or your school principal to arrange an assembly or an in-class presentation. The League of Women Voters (see our Links page) is one non-profit, non-partisan  organization that might be able to help with speakers.

3. Involve students! Some organizations are even hiring students to help with voter registration and education efforts. One such group is New Voters Rising, which can be contacted at FMcCrary@hotmail.com. More organizations will be listed here as their contacts become available, so keep checking!

Working with high school students offers the opportunity to develop the lifelong voting habit. Let's keep working for a vital and vibrant kind of democracy in our country.