Elections office reports voter-registration drives at local high schools and highlights student contest

Caroline County elections staff reported Friday that they conducted voter-registration drives during National Voter Education Week at Colonel Richardson High School and at North Carolina High School, where staff and trained voter-registration distributors helped seniors complete applications.

Allison (Election Director) said volunteers and trained voter-registration distributors visited the schools in collaboration with guidance counselors; the drives produced three completed registration applications at Colonel Richardson and 12 at North Carolina High School. The office provides training for "voter registration distributors," the updated state terminology for volunteers who help complete registration forms and staff drives.

Allison also told the board about a State Board of Elections high-school senior voter-registration contest. The state contest lets high schools opt in via the State Board's website; Allison said she shared the program information with guidance counselors at the two schools and included the press release with the board packet.

Why it matters: Youth registration and turnout initiatives are part of the county's outreach plan for maximizing participation. The board's election plan also notes outreach in libraries, town offices and social media and the mailing of specimen ballots to eligible voters.

Less critical details: The office trains individuals who wish to serve as voter-registration distributors and keeps a list of those available for public events. Allison said giveaways and informational tables were used at the registration events.