Part of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s legacy was his call to political action beginning with the power of the vote, and hundreds of students carried on that legacy Thursday.
Hundreds of suburban Cook County High School students got their first taste of politics, casting ballots for the first time this week.
Their participation was part of a new early voting pilot program to encourage civic engagement.
Students and staff filled a room at Hill Crest High School in Country Club Hills to do their civic duty in the primary election.
“To be able to do it for the first time I just felt so relieved and so happy because I was able to make a change in my world,” said Jazmine Glover, Hillcrest High School senior.
Glover also served as an election judge at her school, which is being used as an early voting site for one day.
“I thought that would be a great way to serve our community, not only because we’re able to vote for the people that we want, but also at the same time we can inspire younger kids to be able to vote,” she said.
Hillcrest is one of 24 high schools in suburban Cook County participating in a new pilot program to empower the youth to get out the vote. The “Defenders of DA’mocracy” program was developed in partnership with the Chicago bears to boost civic engagement.
High school juniors and seniors also applied to be election judges.
“It makes me very hopeful and happy to see that they’re watching what’s going on no matter how they feel about the things that’s going on but to see they’re just engaged and paying attention that’s sparking them to take action,” said Kenya Young, Hillcrest High School Social Studies Teacher.
The Cook County Clerk’s Office said it trained and certified more than 125 students to be election judges teaching them how to manage voter check in, how to process ballots, and manage the voting equipment.
“This is not a mock election. This is not a classroom simulation. This is real voting happening in real time inside the halls of our schools,” said Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon.
So far in suburban Cook County, more than 1,600 ballots have been cast for early voting by midday Thursday, according to officials. The clerk said 800 of them accounted for students at participating high schools.
“We want students to see that democracy depends on participation when students understand the process and experience it first-hand they’re more likely to engage in that civic life hopefully beyond high school,” said Ryan Nagle, Bremen High School District 228 Social Studies Supervisor.
The pilot program is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Right now there are five early voting locations in suburban Cook County. It will expand to all 55 locations on Monday.
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