More than 150 students register to vote at Maine East H.S. event

More than 150 Maine East High School students registered to vote at a day-long event hosted by the League of Women Voters of Park Ridge on February 4.

Twelve volunteers from the League and Action Ridge camped out in the school's library throughout the day to help students complete voter registration forms. In all, 151 students registered to vote, and many signed up to receive emails or texts from the League to remind them about upcoming election dates and tell them where to find out about candidates.

Carl Brownell, Maine East social science department chair, said that past registration drives at the school haven't been as successful, largely because they were more informal events set up in the cafeteria. This time around, staff promoted the event through posters and announcements, and teachers let students know in advance what information they would need with them to register. On the day of the event, teachers sent interested students to the library during class time to complete the registration process. Students needed to be a U.S. citizen and turn 18 by the general election on Nov. 3 in order to register. (Students who are 17 may vote in the Illinois primary on March 17 as long as they turn 18 by the general election.)

"Having it in a separate space where students could come from their classes I think worked really well to get more students tuned in to it ahead of time and thinking about it, and planning to come and do it," said Brownell.

Karen Yee Reid, who coordinated the event for the League, credited the cooperation and work of the Maine East staff with the event's success. Reid arranged to have volunteers staff the event throughout the school day.

One volunteer, Nan Parson, said she was especially impressed by the students' enthusiasm. "They were so enthusiastic and eager to exercise their democratic right to vote for whomever they wish in the next election," she said.

The school plans to keep that enthusiasm going by hosting an online mock election before the Illinois primary on March 17. Students will receive information about the presidential candidates in advance to help them make their choices. The mock election will take place on March 16 to accommodate the many Maine East students who have already committed to serve as election judges on primary day.

Local schools or organizations interested in hosting their own voter registration drives can contact the League through its website: https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/lwv-park-ridge