Statement To High School Students In Virginia: Use Your Voice, And Use Your Vote
Following the news of high school student protests in Virginia on September 27, 2022 concerning proposed state-mandated school district policies toward transgender youth, and in advance of a change in Virginia's youth voting law allowing youth to preregister at age 16 to vote, The Civics Center’s Executive Director, Laura W. Brill, issued the following statement.
Dear Students in Virginia,
You have the right to organize and to speak out.
You are courageous and powerful when you stand up for one another in the face of state requirements that target and marginalize gender non-conforming students or any other group.
You are also powerful when you vote.
Approximately 20,000 high school seniors in Virginia will be old enough to vote on November 8 this year.
Starting tomorrow, October 1, 2022, young people will be able to pre-register to vote in Virginia, at the age of 16. This means high school students can organize now so they can be ready to vote when they turn 18. Fifteen other states and the District of Columbia all allow youth to preregister to vote at age 16. Thirty-five states allow youth at least one year in which to register in advance of the first election when they will be old enough to vote.
We know that when your generation registers, you vote at far higher rates than many people expect. In 2020, 86% of registered youth voted. So get registered, bring your friends, and make a difference.
Your voice matters. Your vote matters.
The last day to register to vote in Virginia online or by mail is October 17. Virginia also has same-day registration at election locations on Election Day. For more details, click here. You can download the graphic below and use the QR Code to help us spread the word. You can also retweet our post on Twitter. See our map of state age requirements here. The public comment on Virginia's proposed policies on transgender youth runs October 26, and the page on which to submit public comments is here.
