![YAT leader, Youth Outreach Program member and junior Chloe Chen hands a registration form to senior Morgan Tien during the voter registration drive on Oct. 10. “It's important that all levels of our government and our community [are accessible] to more people because we see today [there are] some restrictions in different areas of the country and people being more dissatisfied with the government,” YAT leader, Youth Outreach member and senior Aaron Owens said. “We want people to have a chance to connect with their government, to actually make a change that they want to see.”](https://portolapilot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8009edited-1200x904.jpg)
The City of Irvine’s Youth Outreach Program collaborated with the Portola High School Youth Action Team to host its annual voter registration drive for students 16 years and older on Oct. 10.
The drive involved posting flyers with QR codes for registration forms and distributing pamphlets with information about the registration process at the booth, which were supplemented by stickers encouraging students to pre-register or vote.
“We really wanted to come out and promote this pre-registering and registering process to vote [in] any sort of government election,” YAT leader, Youth Outreach member and junior Chloe Chen said. “It’s important for all of the youth to get to spread their voice and have a chance to vote as soon as possible.”
Volunteers from schools in IUSD and Beckman High arranged voter registration initiatives at their own schools to reach more students, according to Chen. To remain nonpartisan, none of the organizers endorsed specific candidates or political parties.
“It is one of our civic duties and responsibilities as citizens to participate in our democracy,” YAT leader, Youth Outreach member and senior Aaron Owens said. “When I’m engaging in this activity, I’m simply asking people — other people in the electorate, my fellow students — to come and voice their opinions through voting to participate in these means to communicate with the government.”
The Youth Outreach Program has organized civic engagement efforts for over 20 years, according to City of Irvine employee and HSYAT program coordinator Steve Knollmiller. An estimated 500 to 1000 students are expected to pre-register or register to vote this year as presidential election years typically yield a higher turnout.
“Voting is the bedrock of our democracy,” Owens said. “When there are more people who vote, the population is better represented, and the goal is to ensure that people feel represented, to make sure they are aware of the option to vote. Elections are so important because they show our leaders and our communities where America wants to go, and by allowing more people to participate in that process, we’re creating a fairer, safer and more diverse country.”
It is crucial to vote during election years due to the significant impact on local services, state laws, and national policies, according to Cal State Fullerton. Moving forward, the Youth Outreach Program plans to raise more awareness about the importance of voting from a young age.
