Empowering the vote

Youth Tour Ambassadors lead the way in rural Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives are making strides in promoting civic engagement through the Youth Tour Ambassador Program, especially during this year’s National Voter Registration Day. Through coordinated efforts, 150 high school students across the state were registered or pre-registered to vote, underscoring the program’s focus on fostering youth leadership and participation in democracy.

Misti Frazier, youth tour coordinator at Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative (VVEC), praises the role of students like Yasmina Bruton, a senior from Barnsdall High School, who took the lead in organizing a voter registration event at her school. As part of her responsibilities as a Youth Tour Ambassador — and in pursuit of a scholarship opportunity — Bruton spoke to her peers about the importance of voting.

“Yasmina stepped out of her comfort zone and spoke to 30-40 seniors about registering to vote,” Frazier says. “She prepared a speech and explained the registration process, helping her classmates understand how to participate in future elections.”

Students at the event, who ranged from 17 ½ to 18 years old, could register or pre-register using either a QR code or paper applications. According to Frazier, many students opted for both methods.

This initiative aligns with National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday aimed at increasing voter registration across the country. Since the holiday’s inception in 2012, over six million Americans have been registered to vote through various events nationwide. The efforts by Oklahoma’s Youth Tour Ambassadors contributed to this national movement, highlighting the role young people can play in increasing voter participation.

The event also ties into the mission of Co-ops Vote, a nonpartisan project of America’s Electric Cooperatives. This initiative encourages informed voting among cooperative members, aiming to ensure that rural communities stay engaged in the political process without endorsing specific candidates.

Amber Himle, advocacy coordinator at the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), emphasized the significance of involving young people in civic activities like voter registration.

“Programs like Youth Tour offer young leaders a chance to take part in shaping their communities,” Himle says. “Youth Tour Ambassadors are actively engaging their peers in the democratic process, and their efforts on National Voter Registration Day show the positive impact that informed young people can have.”

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of partners like Oklahoma’s Youth Tour students, two million Americans across the nation registered,
updated their registration or verified their registration status on National Voter Registration Day.

Need help with voting?

This nonpartisan website, www.nass.org/can-I-vote, was created by state election officials to help eligible voters figure out how and where to go vote. To learn more, scan the QR code.