Met with cheers, T-shirts and voter guides, hundreds of Chicago high school students flooded the Loop early voting supersite Wednesday as part of a push for young voter participation.
Chicago Votes, a political organization with a focus on young people, sponsored the Parade to the Polls, busing students from school to the Loop site so they could cast their ballots in the upcoming general election, many of them for the first time. Each time a rookie voter cast their ballot, an election official rang a bell to congratulate them.
DRW College Prep students get off the bus to vote during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
"I was a little nervous, but...I understood what I was potentially going to be voting for and overall I'm just really happy that I got to vote," said Pritzker College Prep student Elijah Candelaria.
In recent years, voter turnout has been especially low among younger demographics, and removing barriers to voting is an important part of improving that, Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the event after riding a bus with students from DRW College Prep in Homan Square.
"This commitment of Chicago Votes to ensure that our young people participate in our democratic process is so vital to the lifeblood of democracy," Johnson said. "I'm not mayor of Chicago without young people actively engaged in the process."
Students read a voting guide while waiting in line to vote during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson greets DRW College Prep students who are waiting in line to vote during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Chicago Votes Executive Director Stevie Valles holds voter guides during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Students fill out forms before voting during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Jimmy Mei, 18, a senior at UIC College Prep, casts his ballot as Lynea Smith, an early voting official, guides him through the process, during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
People vote during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Students fill out forms before voting during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Aliviah Ball, 18, a student at Butler College Prep, casts her ballot during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Lynea Smith, an early voting official, rings a bell for new voters during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Miyauna Guyton, a teacher at Johnson College Prep (second from right), stands with her students during Chicago Votes’ Parade to the Polls at the voting supersite in the Loop on Wednesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
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