ELDRIDGE, Iowa — Iowa High School students' are getting a chance to make their voice heard and get a head start on the future.
Statewide High School Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday, Feb. 13. North Scott High School is one of many schools across Iowa participating in this drive. Students' will be able to register to vote either online or by filling out a form during their lunch time today. It's being run by those in student government.
News 8's Charles Hart spoke with North Scott High School's Student Government Advisor Katie Hoyt, who said getting these kids interested in voting early is important.
"If we remove that hurdle of having to be registered, they're much more likely to vote, and voting is important," Hoyt said. "And this year, we have a presidential election coming up. So we felt like this was a really good year to try to promote that at North Scott High School."
Iowa law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote, but they must turn 18 on or before election day. There are currently more than 4,500 17-year-olds already registered to vote in Iowa. That's significantly higher than the more than 3,400 17-year-olds registered to vote in fall 2023 in the weeks leading up to National Voter Registration Day.
Hoyt said voting sets students' up better for their futures.
"The decisions that are made in our government right now are going to be really important as they grow up, and they're paying taxes, and they're working and doing all the things that you know, we're doing right now," Hoyt said. "So I think it's important to get kids interested in a young age."
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a press release to News 8, this drive educates students on the voting registration and participation process.
"Of course, voting is one of the best ways to make your voice heard, and registering to vote is the first step in that process," said Secretary Pate. "We find that often, when young people are educated about the election process, they are much more comfortable in participating in Iowa’s elections when they are eligible.”
Iowa law requires high schools to conduct two voter registration drives every school year.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel