A voting registration booth is going to be held for juniors and seniors on Friday, October 7th. Students who will turn 18 by November 8th will be eligible to register.

“Students that register to vote by the October deadline will be able to vote in the upcoming Midterm elections in November,” senior Abhinav Boda said.

Boda, who ran the registration booth in March of 2022, is planning to hold the registration booth in Government teacher Ryan Ebie’s classes on October 7th. However, students who would like to register need to be prepared: in order to register to vote online, students need the last four digits of their social security number and their driver’s license number. Without a driver’s license, students will need to register using the less convenient paper registration.

“The registration process itself is simple,” Ebie said. “However, this presentation is aimed at encouraging students to vote in our elections.”

With election season around the corner, this is an important step for new voters. The booth makes it easier for students to participate in the democratic process, which is increasingly important considering midterm elections’ historically low voter turnout rates among 18 to 29-year-olds. In fact, during the 2014 Midterm elections, youth voter turnout recorded a record low with a mere 19.9% of 18 to 29-year-olds voting in the election.

“There are many issues that are important to young people,” Ebie said. “And by voting, young people can have an impact on them.”

The presentation aims to inform students about the importance of voting and civic education, while also supporting them throughout the registration process. More than 49 million people aged 18 to 29 are eligible to vote in the next election, according to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. With the youth turnout rate, Boda said that it is more important than ever to expose students to the importance of voting.

“Our voter registration booth provides students with the opportunity to have their voices heard in their communities.” Boda said. “It makes it easier for students to get involved who might otherwise get lost in the registration process.”