San Antonio High Schools Focus on Voter Registration as Deadline Approaches
With the October 7 voter registration deadline rapidly approaching, high schools in San Antonio are actively promoting voter registration among eligible students. According to a low-profile, often ignored Texas state law, high schools are required to offer registration opportunities to students who meet the age criteria. However, implementation and adherence vary drastically between schools.
Mobilizing Student Voters
Elizabeth Chalmers, 18, a senior at Clark High School, is leading the charge at her campus. Recently entered adulthood, Chalmers will be voting for the first time in the November 5 elections. She is making strenuous efforts to ensure her peers register and understand the importance of informed voting. Given the intense nature of the current election cycle, Chalmers believes, “that definitely has inspired a lot of students to want to speak up.”
The state law advocating high school voter registration dates back to 1983 and states that even private high schools in Texas must provide eligible students and staff with voter registration forms twice yearly. The law, however, encounters lack of enforcement and proper monitoring. Complying with the law is taken lightly by many schools as no penalty applies for non-compliance.
According to Heather Eichling, founder and director of Youth Do Vote, a non-profit organization that regularly visits 20 or more campuses across different school districts, only about 30% of Bexar County high schools strictly comply with the law’s requirements.
The Law’s Specifics
The law stipulates that high school principals, or their designees, must serve as deputy voter registrars. Their main task is to offer registration applications to students and staff who are 17 years and 10 months old and expected to turn 18 by the election day. Assistance is provided in accurately filling out the forms, which must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Bexar County Elections Department within five days of completion.
Implementing the law sees a diverse range of approaches: some principals delegate the task to a government or civics teacher, while others distribute registration cards at graduation rehearsals or invite outside groups to visit the school to guide students through the registration process.
Balancing Act
The University of Houston’s Election Lab estimates that up to three-quarters of Texas high schools failed to adhere to the requirement in 2021. It has been suggested that more affluent and larger school districts seemingly deploy superior resources to meet the requirements, tends to lag behind. A common obstacle schools face in implementing the law is potential confusion and the fear of potential legal consequences.
In spite of these hurdles, the education community recognizes the importance of youth engagement in political processes. “You’re talking about 140,000 students who will likely turn 18 before the 2024 elections. That’s a lot of voters, and everyone matters,” says Brandon Rottinghaus, the founder of the Election Lab at the University of Houston.
A Community Effort
Community efforts towards implementing voter registration in schools extend beyond the student body. Principal Sue Arredondo of Veterans Memorial High School also invites parents to school presentation days to help them register. Reflecting on her aim, Arredondo stated, “I’m not trying to push them to vote for a particular candidate. My goal is to get them registered, and for them to know it’s important.”
The initiative taken by San Antonio high schools to encourage voter registration among students serves as a testament to the understanding that every voice matters when determining the future of our democracy.
