Educators play a vital role in preparing students to become informed and active participants in a democracy. That’s the focus of California’s annual High School Voter Education Weeks, a statewide initiative to encourage civic awareness and voter preregistration that’s being held September 15–26 this year. Since the program launched in 2016, nearly 1.4 million students have preregistered to vote statewide, leading to more than 1.1 million eligible voters.
At Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School, a Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) school, one 18-year-old student is registering to vote, and another 13 students who are 16 and 17 years old are preregistering. Over the two weeks, the school is spotlighting civic engagement through a range of activities designed to build awareness, knowledge, and pride in democratic participation.
Week One: Awareness & Education (September 15–19)
The first week emphasizes building a foundation of civic knowledge and sparking student interest. Each day includes a different activity—from kickoff announcements and civics “fun facts” to a celebration for preregistered voters. Students will also watch brief PBS civics videos and show their spirit by wearing patriotic colors. Together, these experiences form a thoughtful sequence of lessons aligned to youth civic engagement, helping students connect classroom learning with their role in democracy.
Week Two: Civic Engagement in Action (September 22–26)
The second week moves from learning to action. Students will explore civic themes through an art contest, test their knowledge in a Kahoot civics quiz, and add their names to a “Voter Pledge Wall.” A preregistration help table will be available during lunch, and the week wraps up with a celebration featuring “Future Voter” stickers and a ballot box display.
Principal Lauren Roth shared her enthusiasm, “Our students are excited not only to pre-register and register to vote, but also about their own upcoming student council election. The decisions they make about student body funds have a real impact on school culture and climate. It’s inspiring to see them connecting civic engagement at school with civic engagement in the wider world.”
High School Voter Education Weeks show that civic engagement starts with education. By encouraging students now, we are strengthening the foundation of democracy for generations to come.
Call to Action
For questions about High School Voter Education Weeks or other civic engagement opportunities, please email the Secretary of State’s Outreach and Education team or call (916) 584-3538. Information is also available by emailing the CDE High School Innovations and Initiatives Office or calling (916) 319-0893.
Educators can explore the PBS LearningMedia Civics Collection for ready-to-use classroom resources that strengthen youth civic engagement.