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Election season has arrived. Read about how students in Democracy Schools
are participating
Barbara Lindauer, Collinsville
We have a group of students at Collinsville High School who have been part of the Student Ambassador Program since the start of the school year. The program is through the Madison County Clerk's Office. This group has learned about the Madison County government and the importance of voting. They reach out to other students to get involved in this important work and especially encourages friends and peers to register to vote, serve as election judges, and vote.
Students also have been canvassing neighborhoods to campaign for a tax levy proposition to help the school grounds.
Lastly, students have attended CIVITAS meetings in St. Louis to hear talks from various politicians and engage in dialogue.
Don Pankuch, Metea Valley; Tom McManamen, Neuqua Valley; Adam Dyche, Waubonsie Valley.
All three schools have sponsored voter registration drives (in partnership with the League of Women Voters), are recruiting students to serve as election judges, have students working on campaigns, and are hosting a Candidate Fair, with the support of Mikva Challenge.
Susan Mueller, Maine West
We are partnering with a local organization called Action Ridge in Park Ridge to run voter registration drives at all three Maine Township High Schools. At Maine West, students in our Social Science Honor Society are helping out throughout the day and our National Honor Society students have also become involved. They sponsor a "Puppies for Democracy" project, in which students who are registered to vote will be eligible for "puppy passes" that allow them to jump the line when the NHS brings puppies in for students to spend time with in March.
Grant Murray, Lakes Community
We recently had the Lake County Clerk's Office come to Lakes and train 15 students to be election judges. Our Government classes lend assistance to help eligible students register to vote online. For those who don't have a state ID but still want to register, we work to get them the information and also plan to assist any student who wants to same day register. And our early voting site is within walking distance of our building. So, we plan to select a day to have students walk over to early vote during the primary. Many students and teachers have taken us up on this "walk" and I expect a high participation rate again during this year's primary.
Kate Berry, Olympia
Our Civics teachers took a day in class to register all eligible seniors to vote, and we have provided applications to students who are interested in serving as local election judges. We had seven students submit applications already. We also have a student group that is helping to distribute information about our school district's referendum that will be on the ballot March 19.
Jason Janczak, Grayslake Central
Students in our Government classes are creating PSAs and posters to encourage students to register to vote. A special push will be made to get our 80+ juniors who will turn 18 before 11/5/24 to register for the primary since they are eligible with our "Suffrage at 17" legislation. Additionally, we are training 12 students to work with Lake County as Election Judges.
Jim Vera, Oswego East
Our Rho Kappa Chapter reached out to the Kane County League of Women Voters, and they came in as a partner to register voters. (Photo below)
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