On October 10, 2024, seven Westchester locations (Carver Center, Guidance Center, Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, Ossining Youth Bureau, Peekskill Youth Bureau, Slater Center, and White Plains Career Center) hosted youth-focused voter registration events, drawing an enthusiastic turnout. With 92 voter registrations within just three hours, the effort underscored the community’s commitment to empowering young voters and fostering civic engagement.
“Our inaugural Youth Voter Registration Drive was a resounding success! We’re already seeing enthusiasm from additional partners and community organizations eager to join us for next year’s efforts. Most importantly, our young participants gained valuable insights into the significance of making their voices heard and learned how to engage in the voting process.” —Liz Oliveto, Program Administrator, Youth Services Youth Services for the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board.
“When I presented this to members of the community, it was really well received. They loved the approach of encouraging young people to vote, but there’s a big educational aspect of it too. Regardless of party affiliation, it’s about learning the rights that you have as a citizen and opening the doors of opportunity to potentially have a voice. Filling out that registration form is a start—you’re giving yourself, your community, your family, your heritage, a voice. It makes an impact at the end of the day.”—Daniel Bonnet, Chief Program Officer, Port Chester Carver Center.
“I’ve voted in every election since I was 18 because I believe in the importance of how it benefits our community. So I appreciate the opportunity to empower our youth who might not think their vote is going to make a difference. It’s not about who you vote for—it's about having that right to vote. A lot of people don’t have that.” —Olivia Jimenez, , Director of Advancement, Port Chester Carver Center
Attendees learned about the importance of voting and gained hands-on experience in registering to vote, igniting a sense of civic responsibility among the next generation of leaders. We are excited to continue this momentum and look forward to supporting more youth in making their voices heard in future elections.
