Members of the Unstoppable Voters Ensemble in front the headquarters for the School District of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Public School students and a Forum Theater Production of How's Your Voice Gonna Matter, performance in front of the offices of the School District of Philadelphia in August.
School districts are already designated voter registration agencies per state and federal law, and a voter education curriculum already exists in the city, but the resolution cements and moves to the forefront year-round efforts to both allow for eligible students to sign up to vote, and for them to understand why it matters.
Schools making a push to engage students around voting and civics makes a dramatic difference: After increased activism around voter registration by the groups behind this effort, 74% of city 18-year-olds voted in 2020, a number that bested overall citywide turnout, which was 66%. Research shows that those who register to vote early typically become habitual voters; the oppositeStatewide, about 180,000 new voters become eligible every year.
“This feels like a victory,” Quinn said. “It’s a lesson for youth — things don’t always happen overnight, but if you’re organized and you stick with it and you’re persistent, you can get stuff done.” The work has also been pushed forward by Rebecca Allen, a Central High junior and current student representative to the school board.