As political battles and their impacts play out in news headlines every day, students are taking a greater interest in how decisions made in Washington, D.C., affect them and others around the nation. And while most high schoolers are not old enough to vote, many are making concerted efforts to educate each other about the importance of voting, including pre-registering as 16 and 17 year olds.

San Marino High School Social Studies Teacher Peter Paccone penned an article for KQED Education sharing details of one such effort spearheaded by two of his 11th-grade students, Jacob and John Chon. These students designed a 10-minute slideshow promoting the state’s voter pre-registration program and presented it to all of Paccone’s U.S. Government students. Their efforts resulted in many of the 140 students pre-registering to vote and taking an active interest in the upcoming election.

“Their presentation also resulted in 12 students signing up to work the 2018 midterm election polls, another four students agreeing to sponsor the school’s upcoming midterm mock election and two more students agreeing to host a midterm election eve party,” wrote Paccone, a member of San Marino Teachers Association

Paccone said the slideshow will be used to educate next year’s government students and ideally pre-register them for the 2022 midterm election.

Don’t forget that there is one more week to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election. Be an education voter and make sure your voice is heard!

Photo courtesy KQED / Peter Paccone