Students from across District 214 participated in a new civic education initiative as the school district partnered with the Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Chicago Bears to launch a countywide High School Early Voting program.
The Student Early Voting training prepared students from District 214 schools to serve as election judges and support on-campus early voting sites. Through the program, students receive hands-on instruction from the Cook County Clerk’s Office on how early voting polling places operate and the responsibilities involved in administering elections. The program is nonpartisan and focuses on election administration, civic responsibility and understanding how voting processes work.
Students who complete the training will go on to help administer early voting at their schools later this winter for eligible peers who are registered to vote in the upcoming primary, as well as staff members in their buildings.
The training session was hosted at John Hersey High School and included student participants from across the district. Participation varied by school, with students recruited through coursework or related programs, including AP American Government and Politics at Hersey and similar offerings at other District 214 schools.
Superintendent Scott Rowe welcomed students, staff, and community partners and emphasized the importance of connecting classroom learning to real-world civic participation.
“Today’s training is focused on understanding the election process, the responsibilities involved and the role individuals play in supporting it,” Rowe said. “Learning how early voting works and what it takes to administer elections builds knowledge, respect for the process and a sense of responsibility to the broader community. Opportunities like this allow students to move beyond textbooks and experience how our system functions in real and meaningful ways.”
The initiative highlights collaboration between public education, local government and community organizations. Representatives from the Cook County Clerk’s Office led the training, while the Chicago Bears participated in support of youth civic engagement, including sharing a public service message focused on student involvement in the voting process.
The experience provides students with a behind-the-scenes look at how elections are administered while allowing them to serve their school communities in a meaningful and practical way.
District 214 remains committed to providing students with opportunities for civic learning and public service that build knowledge, skills and a deeper understanding of their role in the community.
Watch more of this event below:
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