YEO Policy Books 2015 Policy Book | Page 22

Broward County High School Voter Registration Drive Origin: Broward County Supervisor of Elections and Broward County Public Schools Link: Click here Summary: A partnership that began in 2008 between the Broward County Supervisor of Elections and the Broward County Public Schools, the annual High School Voter Registration (HSVR) Drive engages the over 40 local public, private, and charter high schools in the area to register eligible 18 year-olds and pre-register eligible 16 and 17 year-olds. The linked report from 2008 contains descriptions of each facet of the partnerships, including the voter registration program, recruitment of staff and students, utilization of facilities and other resources, as well as a copy of the school board resolution. Talking Points & Important Information: • Broward County is one of the most diverse and transient counties in Florida, with an increase in multicultural residents in the last several years, specifically seeing significant growth in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole speaking populations. This new population growth has had significant impact on the elections process and how the county educates voters. Thus, the Supervisor of Elections partnered with the Broward County Public Schools to enshrine civic participation through the engagement of children and families. In fact, this year alone, Broward County was able to register over 9,500 students. • High school voter registration empowers the voters of tomorrow by making real their value in society. Data from the Census Bureau shows that millennials and younger are the most diverse generations this country has seen, with at least 44 percent of 18-35 year-olds and at least 50.2 percent of 0-5 year-olds identifying with a non-white minority racial or ethnic group. This sets the state for a wider spectrum of diversity in America. It means that our institutions need to b