With the election concluded, a significant accomplishment has been reached for teenagers in Berkeley and Oakland. For the first time, 16 and 17 year olds had the opportunity to vote for school board candidates. To ensure that eligible students at Berkeley High School were registered and informed about the importance of voting, teachers, staff, and student-led organizations actively promoted voter registration on campus in the months leading up to the election.
One of the most involved organizations has been the BHS Civic Leaders club, run by BHS juniors Eva Levenson and Jules Droz. The club took various initiatives to raise awareness, including setting up pre-registration tables across campus. “(The pre-registration tables) were quick and convenient. Students could fill out a few documents and either mail them in or submit them online with just a signature,” Droz said.
Additionally, the Civic Leaders Club organized a Berkeley School Board Candidate Forum at the BHS Little Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, allowing students to learn more about each candidate before voting. “Through initiatives such as its Voter Registration Day partnership with the League of Women Voters (Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024), and the School Board Forum, the (BHS Civic Leaders club) aims to empower students to actively participate in their community and local governance,” Levenson said in the Friday Oct. 4, 2024 bulletin.
The BHS Civic Leaders Club helped increase voter registration among students, but the limited time for planning meant fewer opportunities to encourage broader civic engagement. “We made a good effort (on getting students to register) and saw higher numbers than before, but I think we could have done even better with more time for planning,” Droz said. “We started organizing in September, which was a bit rushed. Some teachers were also hesitant to give up class time for presentations about voter registration, so it was challenging to reach students who needed to pre-register on their own.”
However, other teachers helped students understand the voting process and the impact of their vote, and dedicated class time to help students with registration and provided guidance and support. “I gave my students time in class to register. We had both paper forms and a QR code for online registration, which was helpful as I could assist them with any issues,” Kelly Boylan, a BHS teacher who advises the BHS Civic Leaders Club, said. “Some students needed guidance on specific parts of the form or asked questions like, ‘Should I register with a political party or as an independent?’ I explained their options and what those choices mean.”
In general, teachers appreciated the efforts of the BHS Civic Leaders Club and others who worked to get students registered. “I think the information sent out about registration, the school board speakers, and the club’s efforts were all positive ways for students to engage easily and accessible,” Kendra Lubalin, a BHS teacher, said.
The multi-faceted approach, from emails and support materials to presentations, helped underscore the importance of voting to students. “I was really impressed with the efforts to get students signed up,” Boylan said, “The BHS Civic Leaders Club, which I advise, organized the candidate forum, which went fantastically. Mr. V (John Villavicencio) has been very active in encouraging voter registration, and our librarians prepared materials on how the school board works and how to register. It’s truly been a team effort.”
According to Boylan, some students shared in class that the voting age should be lowered, while others argued that it should be raised. “I discussed this with my students. We had a warm-up question: What age should the voting age be? Their answers varied,” Boylan said. “Those who favored lowering it felt voting on issues that affect their future directly was important.”
According to Travis Walker, a BHS teacher, some students struggled with not feeling knowledgable about the school board politics. “Other (students) felt they weren’t well-informed or unsure about the impact they could make. I think it comes from a lack of institutional knowledge. As teachers, we understand the influence of the school board on our lives and students’ lives, but this is new to them. Building that knowledge in students will take time,” Walker said. “Many were like, ‘I don’t really get it, I don’t feel super informed, and I’m unsure if my vote will make a difference.’”
Looking ahead, some teachers believe that providing students with information will allow them to feel more prepared to vote. “Looking at it through the lens of a new opportunity, it was exciting, but my experience with organizing tells me that mobilizing people takes time. This was a good start, and I hope more students get involved in future events, which will increase engagement,” Walker said.