Duval County elections office expands school-based outreach to pre-register 16- and 17-year-olds to vote

County elections officials bring voter registration into classrooms

Duval County election officials are continuing an outreach strategy aimed at building the next generation of voters by meeting students where they are: on school campuses. The program focuses on helping eligible teenagers pre-register to vote at age 16, a step that automatically becomes an active voter registration when the student turns 18.

The initiative is structured as both an educational effort and a practical registration service. In addition to explaining how local elections work and what voting options exist, staff set up registration opportunities that allow students to complete applications during school visits.

How pre-registration works in Florida

Florida allows eligible residents to pre-register to vote starting at age 16. Pre-registration is designed to reduce barriers for first-time voters by completing paperwork before a student reaches voting age. If a student turns 18 between the registration deadline and Election Day—and the student pre-registered before the deadline—the registration can still be valid for that election under state rules described in local elections guidance.

To complete a registration application, students generally need identifying information such as a Florida driver license number, Florida ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The residential address provided in the application determines voting districts and which races will appear on a future ballot.

Measuring participation: the countywide school competition

A central component of the outreach has been a countywide student voter registration competition involving public and private high schools. During the most recently reported competition cycle, the elections office visited 17 participating schools and received 1,623 student voter registration applications during the month of March.

Schools were recognized in size-based categories across both public and private systems, with winners including Sandalwood High School, Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, and Bridge to Success Academy among Duval County Public Schools, along with Bishop Kenny High School, The Bolles School, and Pace Center for Girls Jacksonville among private schools.

What the outreach includes beyond registration

The elections office also offers year-round voter education and outreach services, including classroom speakers, voter registration tables at nonpartisan community events, and demonstrations of voting equipment used in Duval County. School programming is coordinated in cooperation with the local school board and is offered annually to high schools, with options for colleges and universities as well.

• Voter registration and pre-registration assistance on campus
• Presentations explaining election timelines, eligibility, and voting methods
• Equipment demonstrations showing how ballots are cast and counted locally

The effort is designed to help students complete the steps to become eligible voters before they leave high school, while also building familiarity with the mechanics of voting.

Officials note that outreach availability can vary around election “book closing,” the period when voter registration changes are restricted ahead of an election, making timing an operational factor for schools seeking on-site registration visits.