Today, the Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) and New Voters announced the launch of the Maryland Student Voter Registration Challenge, a statewide initiative that will equip Maryland high school students to lead voter registration drives with mentorship, resources, and statewide recognition.
This is the second annual Maryland Student Voter Registration Challenge, but the first year in partnership with New Voters. Last year, four schools proudly won the challenge by registering 90% of its eligible high school seniors. This year, the challenge has grown to encourage even more students to register or pre-register to vote.
Jared DeMarinis, Maryland State Administrator of Elections, states, “Your voice matters, and as a high school student it is time for you to step up and shape the future you want. Registering to vote is the first step in that process. This contest highlights the importance of the youth vote and civic participation.”
Each year, tens of thousands of Maryland high school students become eligible to pre-register or register to vote. Maryland is among the states that allow eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, creating a unique opportunity for high schools to prepare students for lifelong civic participation. The Student Voter Registration Challenge helps schools and students turn that opportunity into action by competing for statewide recognition from the Maryland State Board of Elections.
The statewide initiative combines the Maryland State Board of Elections’ commitment to expanding civic participation with New Voters’ proven model of student-led voter registration drives. Through the partnership, high school students, educators, schools, and youth-serving organizations across Maryland will receive mentorship, and resources to organize nonpartisan voter registration drives and engage eligible students in the democratic process. Participating schools and student leaders will compete for statewide recognition based on the impact of their voter registration efforts. Top-performing schools will earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold recognition, with Gold Award recipients receiving recognition on the floor of the Maryland General Assembly. The Challenge builds on successful high school voter registration competitions in other states and reflects a growing national movement to empower young people as civic leaders.
“With so much happening in the world right now, it’s easy for people to overlook something as fundamental as voter registration,” said Aanya Contractor, a student at Marriotts Ridge High School. “I’m very fortunate to be part of a generation that’s so passionate about creating change, but that passion only translates if we act on it in the most basic ways, which starts with voter registration. The Student Voter Registration Challenge is a great way to incentivize students to run a drive at their own school.”
Through the Maryland Student Voter Registration Challenge, the Maryland State Board of Elections and New Voters aim to establish Maryland as a national leader in student-led voter registration while expanding youth civic participation and developing the next generation of civic leaders.
“High school is the last universal touchpoint that reaches nearly every young American, making it one of the most powerful places to build lifelong civic participation,” said Jahnavi Rao, Founder and President of New Voters. “Yet high schools and high school students are too rarely empowered to lead voter registration efforts. We’re honored to partner with the Maryland State Board of Elections to equip students across Maryland with the mentorship and support they need to register their classmates to vote and help make Maryland the nation’s leader in youth voter registration.”
The Maryland State Board of Elections reminds schools that Maryland Education Article §7-116 (b)(2) requires schools to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17 and “help instill in students knowledge of the history, importance, and enduring meaning of the United States Constitution and of the Maryland Constitution on the citizens of the State.” The article states that the Constitution Day program of education “may include special assemblies, discussions, presentations, and events commemorating the United States Constitution and the Maryland Constitution, the opportunity for eligible students to register to vote, and efforts to reinforce existing curricula. SBE encourages schools and educators to use today to learn more about the High School Voter Registration Competition and get their students ready to vote!
For more information visit https://vote.md.gov/MSVR.
Please remember to rely on your state and local government election officials as your trusted sources for election information. Visit SBE’s website, follow SBE on social media, download the Go Vote MD app or contact your local elections office for accurate election information. Report any suspicious information to SBE’s disinformation portal.
