KIPP Atlanta students help community members register to vote

Some local high school students believe voter turnout in the United States is too low.

Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes was in northwest Atlanta at KIPP Collegiate Academy, where students were registering people.

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Dozens of students who are 18 or will be 18 on Election Day registered to vote right in front of their school.

They got help from Congresswoman Nikema Williams.

“This is exactly what we mean when we say we want everyone to engage in our democracy. You often hear the narrative that our young people are not paying attention. “Our young people are not voting,” Williams said.

Sixty-nine students at the academy said they couldn’t wait to cast their vote.

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This nonpartisan initiative began last school year when a student committee partnered with two organizations: Civic Nation and When We All Vote.

17-year-old Cassidy Francis is one of the ambassadors.

“The program is called My School Votes. It’s just about your school being able to tell people, ‘Go vote,'” Francis said.

Principal Arthur Washington is proud that his students understand the history behind voting.

“Every morning we talk about standing on the shoulders of giants, strengthened by the spirit of our ancestors. When they finally cast their vote, they will break so many generations of curses and just carry those ancestors with them,” Washington explained.

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