(West Palm Beach, FL – June 2, 2022) The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC)today announced that the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has helped nearly a thousand graduating high school seniors to register to vote right after picking up their caps and gowns prior to their graduation ceremonies.
The students were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers from the League who encouraged the future-focused young adults to register to vote: 934 did—including a record-breaking 259 students from Palm Beach Central High. Due to COVID, this was the first time in three years that the League of Women Voters has been able to offer this service during senior check-out events.
Over a 10 day period, 47 LWVPBC activists—along with six volunteers from the Upsilon Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority—divided into teams that registered graduating seniors from 11 local public high schools, as well as South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach.
“This was our highest number of new voter registrations ever during these senior check-outs, but we’ll be aiming even higher next year,” says Pamela Maldonado of the League’s Voter Services Committee. She also offered special thanks to school administrators and staff who welcomed the volunteers on campus.
“We can always tell when teachers and staff have spoken to students about assuming their responsibility as adult citizens when they graduate,” says LWVPBC Team Leader Germaine Richards. “The students come looking for us, rather than our having to collar them.”
“Of course, now that they are registered, our next job is to get them to turn out and vote,” adds Maldonado. “By encouraging young voters to actually vote, we want to help establish a lifelong habit of voting in every election. 18-29 year-olds constitute the largest demographic group in the country. Low turnout has been the only thing preventing America’s youth from becoming the nation’s most influential voting bloc.”
And now that this year’s graduation season is over, what is the League’s next project?
“We have begun a campaign to visit eldercare facilities around the county to update ID’s, signatures and addresses for their residents, as well as make sure they are registered for Vote by Mail, if that’s how they vote. We’ll be working on that all summer long,” Maldonado promises.
About the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County:
The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County is a nonpartisan political organization of women and men of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging informed and active participation in government through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. For more information, please visit www.lwvpbc.org or
(Photo Credit: Melissa Selikoff)