During Voter’s Registration Week, the St. John Registrar of Voters Office registered over 150 students at East St. John High School during the one-day voter drive. As part of their efforts to register more voters, the Chief Deputy Registrar Rita Jareau and the Confidential Assistant Jane Townsend spent two hours helping the ESJHS 17- and 18-year-old students to complete their registration cards in the school’s library.

“We’re hoping to register as many people as we can. We are getting out of the office and holding drives at different places. Our next stop is in front of Walmart,” said Jareau.

In order for students to register, they had to meet the eligibility requirements: be a United States citizen, be at least 17 years old, and not be under any order of imprisonment or judgment of interdiction. Students were required to show their driver’s license, birth certificate, or student demographic information (provided by the school) and a picture identification card.

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Tiron Breaud, a 17-year-old 12th grader, was very excited about the opportunity to register to vote. “I can’t wait to be a part of voting for the most important leadership position in our country, the president.”

The Registrar of Voters Office intends to make this drive an annual event in conjunction with the high school. “The students really appreciate how easy the registration process has been. I believe that the convenience of them registering at school will help more students become more civically involved in elections in our parish,” stated Rosann Hymel, ESJHS Assistant principal of student affairs.

Jay Dardenne, Secretary of State, produced a brochure encouraging Louisiana youth to “Vote and Be Heard.” His message states, “Young people in particular should take advantage of the opportunity to register [to vote] and, equally importantly, to vote—our most sacred right.”