County Elections: Voter Registration for Students is a Text Away

Contra Costa launches texting program during state High School Voter Education Weeks

The Contra Costa County Elections Division is launching an easy and convenient way for high school students to register or pre-register to vote.

Starting Monday, all Contra Costa high school students can text their school name to “2Vote” (28683) on their smartphones and receive a reply text with a link to quick look-up tools on the Elections Division website.

The link, which anyone can use, will include a button that allows students who are 18 to register to vote and 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. It will also include a mock election, which asks students to “vote” on some relevant topics, including some high school age specific questions.

“We’re always looking for ways to get high school students more involved and excited about civic life,” said Joe Canciamilla, Contra Costa’s Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. “Hopefully this tool makes it easier for them to participate and familiarizes them with the voting process.”

The Contra Costa Elections Division is starting the program as part of California’s High School Voter Education Weeks program, which is held from April 17th to 28th. The program is aimed at promoting civic education on campuses and cultivating lifelong voters and active, engaged citizens.

Superintendents and principals throughout Contra Costa County have expressed enthusiasm in the texting program.

“Civic literacy is a very important aspect of a student’s high school experience. Encouraging voter registration for students through technology is something we fully support,” said Karen Sakata, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools.

The Contra Costa Elections Division worked with Georgia-based Global Mobile to develop the service. Contra Costa Election’s high school texting program will be ongoing. County staff and Global Mobile plan to update the mock election questions every few months.