SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters – in collaboration with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition – is honoring the legacy of civil rights leaders like Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who believed the ballot is the most powerful tool for change. To fulfill Jackson’s vision of ensuring every student graduates with both a diploma and voter registration card, Peters is spearheading a measure that would recognize education and civic engagement go hand in hand.
“Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, but too often, young people leave high school without ever being invited or encouraged to participate in that process,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “By connecting voter registration directly to graduation, we would be removing barriers and setting the expectation that every young person has both the right and responsibility to have a voice in their future.”
Studies show that people who vote earlier in life are more likely to remain active voters and participants in their communities for decades to come, yet high school students are not automatically provided the resources needed to register once they age into the electorate.
Peters’ measure would ensure school districts serving students in grades nine through 12 provide all eligible graduating students with the opportunity to register to vote before they receive their diploma. The goal is to make civic engagement as natural and expected as earning a high school diploma.
“When our students graduate ready to vote, we’re not only celebrating their academic achievements – we’re cultivating lifelong civic engagement,” said Peters. “This bill is a testament to our state’s youth, proving we trust them to lead and shape the future of our democracy.”
House Bill 4339 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
