Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate is calling for high school students across Iowa to conduct a voter registration drive on Wednesday, March 22. 

Iowa law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote and participate in primary elections as long as they turn 18 prior to, or on the day of, the general election. Currently, there are more than 3,400 17-year-olds registered. 

In December, Lone Tree High School received the Carrie Chapman Catt Award from Pate after over 97 percent of their seniors completed their registration. It was Lone Tree’s third award in as many years. At the award ceremony, Pate spoke to KCII about the importance of voter registration, especially for young Iowans. “It’s the starting point. If you want to be in the race, you have to register for it. That gives you the ticket to be a part of our democracy. Young people are underestimated in so many ways, but we’ve seen in the last few elections in Iowa the 18 to 24-year-olds have been voting in record numbers.”  

To check your voter registration status, register to vote, or update your information, visit voterready.iowa.gov.