• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Thursday, March 23, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Pate Calls for Statewide High School Voter Registration Day on March 30

High School Voting Registration Day on March 30 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Iowa ratifying the 26th Amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
March 8, 2021
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Significant Changes to Iowa’s Election Law Heads to Governor’s Desk

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate encourages Iowa high schools to conduct voter registration drives on Tuesday, March 30. The date coincides with the 50th anniversary of Iowa ratifying the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

Every school that registers at least 90 percent of its eligible students to vote receives the Carrie Chapman Catt Award, named after the Iowan who played a vital role in securing access to the ballot box for women across the nation with the passage of the 19th Amendment.

“It’s crucial for young people to learn that registering to vote and participating in elections is the best way to make sure your voice is heard,” Pate said. “My office is working with schools across the state to help them register eligible students. The Catt Award hopefully gives them a goal that the students can work together to achieve.”

State law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote. There are almost 2,000 17-year-olds currently registered in Iowa. Partnering with Inspire2Vote, Secretary Pate’s Office helps schools organize and conduct voter registration drives. The deadline for schools to qualify for this year’s Carrie Chapman Catt Award is this school year is April 16.

“School voter registration day is a great opportunity to connect with students and foster a culture of civic engagement among our next generation of voters,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo.

Teachers from Iowa high schools support the effort.

ADVERTISEMENT

“At UHS, we feel it is essential for students to learn how to participate in their communities and one of the best ways to be involved in the process is by participating in elections. Our students created a non-partisan Political Action Club to help encourage students to learn about politics and ways to get involved. Registering students to vote was the first major project this club had its sights on and last year they met their goal to register 90% of eligible seniors to vote! By registering our seniors, students were also able to talk to seniors about the importance of participating in the upcoming elections. We want to help students understand that voting is a positive habit to develop and it’s not as scary as it seems! We hope that by registering our seniors, it is one less obstacle they will have to overcome when they get ready to vote in local, state, or federal elections.” Anne La Pietra, an Urbandale High School social studies teacher, said in a released statement.

Some teachers also plan to adapt their lesson plans on that day.

“I believe on March 30th I will present lectures and lessons on the historic significance of the voting amendments, especially the 15th, 19th, 24th, and especially the 26th Amendment. I will also try to enlist support and maybe register some Juniors that are 17 years of age,” Josh Heitman, a social studies teacher at Burlington Notre Dame High School, stated.

Schools interested in being considered for the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and receiving information and resources about how to conduct a voter registration should visit the Secretary of State’s website or email Kendall.Antle@sos.iowa.gov. State law requires high schools to conduct two voter registration drives per school year.

Governor Reynolds plans to issue an official proclamation declaring Tuesday, March 30 as “Iowa High School Voter Registration Day.”

Tags: Ann LeboIowa Department of EducationIowa Secretary of State OfficePaul Patevoter registration
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Feenstra to Serve on Two Agriculture Subcommittees

Next Post

Reynolds Signs Bill Shortening Early Voting Period, Election Day Hours

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Reynolds appoints Chad Aldis to head Iowa Dept. of Education
Education

Reynolds appoints Chad Aldis to head Iowa Dept. of Education

March 9, 2023
State Government

State of Iowa selects Odyssey to administer Education Savings Accounts program

March 1, 2023
Lebo resigns as Iowa Dept. of Education Director
State Government

Lebo resigns as Iowa Dept. of Education Director

February 20, 2023
Pate proposes legislation to create uniform election recount procedures
State Government

Pate proposes legislation to create uniform election recount procedures

January 9, 2023
Lawmakers, Gun Rights Advocates Commemorate 49th Amendment to Iowa Constitution
State Government

Lawmakers, Gun Rights Advocates Commemorate 49th Amendment to Iowa Constitution

December 11, 2022
Iowa Democrats lose first in the nation status
Politics

Iowa Democrats lose first in the nation status

December 4, 2022
Next Post
Reynolds Defends Relaxing COVID-19 Mitigation Measures

Reynolds Signs Bill Shortening Early Voting Period, Election Day Hours

Hinson Opposes Gun Control Legislation on House Floor

Hinson Opposes Gun Control Legislation on House Floor

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Des Moines Public Schools Says Only State Can Mandate Masks

8th Circuit Court Partially Reinstates Iowa’s Mask Mandate Ban in Schools

January 25, 2022
architecture building buy buyer

Study: Midwest cities about average in housing market overvalue trend

June 6, 2022
Corell Says His Experience With COVID-19 Was ‘Very Real, Very Serious’

Corell Says His Experience With COVID-19 Was ‘Very Real, Very Serious’

April 21, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

    Horn: It’s time for employers get serious about Iowa’s untapped workforce

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Regents Board President pauses new DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.