By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
As the midterm election year progresses, schools and community organizations across Washington, D.C., are working to prepare students for civic participation by bringing voter registration and education into their daily environments.
On June 16, D.C. voters will head to the polls for the primary election, including a number of first-time voters. Youth who will be at least 18 years old by Nov. 3 are eligible to participate.
These efforts come as the District prepares to implement ranked choice voting (RCV) for the first time during a primary. According to the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. If a candidate earns more than half of first-choice votes, that candidate wins.
At Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA), an April voter registration event highlighted how schools are helping students navigate both the voting process and new election systems.
During the April 3 event, eligible first-time voters received assistance registering to vote, checking their voter status and learning about the voting process. Students practiced with ballots, explored candidate information and asked questions in a supportive setting. The event was co-hosted by two student-led organizations, including TMA Votes, a voter registration club.
Students say these opportunities are key to building confidence, especially as many young people lack consistent access to voter information.
“It is important for youth to vote as soon as they are old enough, because they are able to help make a change in their community,” said Leela Arno, a senior at TMA and a member of TMA Votes. “Also, they could see that the effort they put into their community shows up in the candidates who are elected.”
Blessin Cooper, another TMA senior and member of TMA Votes, said participation in school-based initiatives helps students better understand their role in shaping society.
Still, students say awareness remains a major barrier.
“Most young people in D.C. don’t have enough access to voter registration because it is not talked about around us much, and most of the time, candidates exclude young people from their campaigns,” said Arno, 18.
Cooper said that while voter resources do exist, many students simply do not know where to find them. She said programs like TMA Votes help close that gap by making civic engagement more visible and accessible.
“I feel quite prepared, especially thanks to my teacher and school for helping students be engaged in democracy, as it’s one of our driving principles,” said Cooper, 17.
Officials with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) say these efforts reflect a broader push to build civic readiness.
“DCPS is committed to ensuring students graduate not only with the skills to succeed in a post-secondary environment as scholars but also as engaged adults,” said a district spokesperson. “Through multiple touchpoints in the social studies curriculum beginning in middle school, students learn about the structures of government and how to advocate with local elected officials on issues important to them.”
“For high school students approaching or reaching voting age and eligible to vote, DCPS partners with non-partisan voter registration organizations to educate and support students with the voter registration process,” they added.
The Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS) is among the organizations working to expand voter education efforts nationwide, including in D.C., where leaders say more targeted outreach is still needed.
“D.C. is heading into a monumental election, and greater effort is needed to register and educate residents on how to vote, especially older high school students,” said Jessica Giles, executive director of CSPS. “For the first time ever, D.C. will have ranked choice voting, but too many voters aren’t prepared. A recent Center for Strong Public Schools poll shows racial disparities in awareness of ranked choice voting, and that gap could mean voters don’t fully use their ballots or risk having their votes invalidated altogether.”
“Schools should hold nonpartisan voter registration drives, encourage students to watch candidate debates, and practice using ranked choice voting ballots,” she added.
Advocates say schools and trusted community spaces are essential to closing awareness and access gaps in youth voter engagement.
“Voter education has to become a normal part of our culture as Americans, particularly in Black America,” said Alisha T. Searcy, CSPS founder and CEO. “There is so much going on, and we have to rely on the institutions that see us, care about us, and understand our issues, serving as safe places where we can go for information.”
Searcy also encourages young people to think beyond voting and consider leadership roles.
“You’re not just voters, but you’re people who can run for office, have ideas, have passion and want to create change,” she said. “You don’t just have to be a bystander or a spectator. Get in the arena, and you can help to create change too.”