Haverford High School’s Young Democrats and Future Republicans clubs are collaborating to achieve their goal of registering at least 85% eligible seniors at Haverford to vote, by hosting a mass voter registration drive this week, Monday through Friday.  In addition to leading an assembly for seniors, members from the clubs are using their social media platforms to advocate the voter registration drive throughout the week.

The primary focus of the Young Democrats and Future Republicans is to gather the senior class on Thursday, March 21, during homeroom in a voting registration assembly to register eligible seniors.  The clubs have recruited seniors to lead the assembly and visit homerooms throughout the week to help register any remaining students who are not able to attend the assembly.

Lexi Lukazewski, President of Future Republicans, said, “It is so important for students to register to vote; not only does it allow them to perform their civic duty, but it also encourages them to become more involved in politics.”

The clubs recently launched a social media campaign with the slogan #fordsvoiceourvote, which involves students creating an Instagram post of a yellow square and using the hashtag in the caption to spark interest and bring awareness to the voter registration drive.  By clicking on the hashtag, students are led to an infographic that promotes the senior voting registration assembly and displays a checklist of materials – driver’s license number or the last four digits of a social security number – to bring to the assembly. In an effort to incentivize seniors in registering to vote, the clubs are offering prizes, such as a reserved parking space or gift cards, in a raffle.  

June Park, Co-founder and Officer of Young Democrats, stated, “It is so crucial for young people to voice their vote.  In order to go out to the polls and vote for policies and candidates that will make a positive change in our country, the first step is to register to vote.  Exercising one’s right to vote is the only way to maintain our democracy.”

With the fast-approaching primary elections in May and the general election in November, along with the impending presidential election in 2020, the Young Democrats and Future Republicans aim to not only encourage eligible students to exercise their civic duty and right to vote, but they also hope to foster more engagement in politics among the youth.