Central Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Zellnor Y. Myrie has asked New York City Schools Chancellor David E. Banks for help in ensuring that eligible students register to vote in November’s Presidential Elections.
Myrie, representative for the 20th Senate District in Brooklyn, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, made the appeal in a letter to Banks. The letter was co-signed by 26 other legislators representing all five boroughs.
“As you know, this year’s presidential election will be pivotal to the future of our nation. We are writing to ask for your partnership in ensuring our young people are equipped with the tools they need to register to vote this year and actively participate in our democracy,” writes Myrie in the letter, a copy of which was made available to Caribbean Life.
He notes that, over the past several years, New York has taken “several important steps” to make voting easier and more accessible to all eligible voters.
Myrie, who chairs the Senate Elections Committee, points to Chapter 2 of the Laws of 2019 that allows 16- and 17- year-olds to pre-register to vote, and requires school districts to promote voter registration and pre-registration of eligible students.
He also writes that, earlier this year, New York State Senate passed legislation requiring all graduating high school students be provided with voter registration forms.
“Despite these efforts, New York City has long struggled with low levels of voter participation, especially among young people,” Myrie writes. “Yet, the choices we make in our elections matter just as much, if not more so, to our youngest voters. Public schools are uniquely positioned to prepare students to be active citizens and participants in our democracy.”
The senator, therefore, requests the active engagement of NYC Public Schools “in ensuring that all eligible students are provided voter registration forms, informing students of state requirements for registration and pre-registration, and collaborating with the New York City Board of Elections as appropriate to conduct voter registration drives in public high schools.”
The voter registration deadline for this year’s general election is Oct. 26, 2024.
“We believe that New York City’s students should be actively engaged in our democratic process, and encourage your support of that objective,” Myrie tells Banks. “This year’s election will be one of the most pivotal in American history. The outcome will shape the future of our nation and the world for generations to come.
“Yet, historically, New York has seen low levels of participation by our youngest voters,” he adds. “It’s up to all of us to reverse this trend and help eligible students play an active role in our democracy.”
