The Pennsylvania Departments of State and Education, in collaboration with Inspire U.S., are excited to launch the Governor’s Civic Engagement Award for high schools throughout the state. The award is intended to recognize and commemorate the efforts of the next generation of leaders to educate, engage and inform their fellow students about how to get involved in the voting process. Their success will be measured by voter registration figures among their school’s eligible student population.

Schools can also sign up directly with Inspire U.S. at: http://www.inspire-usa.org/high_school_signup. Inspire can help high schools coordinate peer-to-peer voter registration drives and Get Out the Vote events. They also provide materials and data management, and organize school celebrations and recognition events. 

Students eligible to register to vote are those who are either 18 years of age, or 17 years of age and will be 18 on or before the date of the next general election. The application confirming that 65% or 85% percent of the school’s eligible students are registered can be mailed to Department of State, c/o Governor’s Civic Engagement Award, 302 North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA, 17120, or emailed to votepa@inspire-usa.org.

Award Distinctions:

Gold Level:  85% of eligible students are registered to vote. 

– Student Ambassadors and the school will receive award certificates from Governor Tom Wolf or Secretary of State Pedro Cortés at a public ceremony at the school location.

Silver Level:  65% of eligible students registered to vote. 

–  Student Ambassadors will receive award certificates.