150 Cheyenne High School Students Pre-Register to Vote

Laramie County's voter registration list now includes 150 Cheyenne high school students who will be eligible to cast their first ballots next year, County Clerk Debra Lee says.

Lee says her office, in cooperation with Laramie County School District 1, visited Central, East, South, and Triumph high schools this month to pre-register students who will be 18 years old and eligible to vote in the 2024 elections.

Lee says retired social studies teacher Don Morris was the catalyst for the event, approaching her several months ago to see if her office would participate.

"(Don) helped ensure the success of the effort by meeting with school district administration, principals, and social studies teachers, and preparing information materials," said Lee.

"School administrators and teachers informed parents and students about the opportunity to pre-register and the documentation required (and) volunteers from local nonprofit organizations also helped facilitate the non-partisan event," Lee added.

Lee says the students were well prepared and seemed enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate in elections.

“Only three percent of Laramie County’s 33,000 registered voters are under the age of 24," said Lee. "Research shows that one reason young people don’t register and vote is because no one asked them."

“Through the efforts of Don and collaboration with the schools, young people were given the opportunity to participate," added Lee. "We hope this is the start of making voting a lifelong habit.”

Lee says if any student missed the opportunity to pre-register to vote at school, they can do so at the County Clerk's Office, which is located in the Laramie County Governmental Complex at 309 W. 20th Street.

Students can also register at a polling place on Election Day when they are 18 years old.

Lee says the success of this year’s event may lead to it being a regular activity for future young voters.