Edited release
04/17/24
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has announced a record high 43 high schools have been recognized for registering eligible students to vote as part of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award for the 2023-2024 school year. The Award goes to Iowa schools that register at least 90 percent of their eligible students to vote.
The Carrie Chapman Catt Award was created in 2019 to encourage voter registration in Iowa high schools. Studies show that students who report being encouraged to vote or taught how to register to vote in high school are more likely to vote and be more invested in elections throughout their lifetimes.
This year, approximately 3,500 high school students registered in conjunction with the Catt Award initiative. Iowa law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote and to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 years of age by the time of the general election.
Among the 43 schools who registered at least 90 percent of their students are Cedar Valley Christian School in Cedar Rapids, Clear Creek Amana High in Tiffin, Highland in Riverside, Isaac Newton Christian Academy in Cedar Rapids, and Lone Tree High School.
West Branch High was recognized for registering at least 70% of eligible students, while Regina High School registered at least 50% of their eligible students.
The complete list of schools is available at sos.iowa.gov.