Secretary of State Steve Simon Touts New Pre-Registration Voting for 16 and 17-Year-Olds

(KNSI) – The top elected official in charge of Minnesoa’s elections spoke to students in St. Cloud about the importance of voting.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon visited government and history classrooms at Apollo and Tech High School on Friday. KNSI News was allowed to tag along as he toured the schools and stressed a change to make voting easier for the next generation. “I’m here to highlight a new law that allows 16 and 17-year-olds in Minnesota to pre-register to vote; it means they can basically fill out a form and get in line to be registered. And if everything checks out, if they are who they say they are, and they live where they say they live, then boom! On their 18th birthday, without having to think about it, they’ll be on the voting rolls.”

Fifteen other states allow kids to register to vote at 16. Simon says he is excited for the law to spark young people to turn out in 2024. “It gets students thinking about themselves as voters before they even are voters. And we know that if they vote in that first election when they’re eligible, they’re going to be much more likely to make it a lifelong habit. And that’s a good thing.”

Simon told the students they gain real political power at 18 when they gain a voice through the vote.

Before meeting with the students, Simon spoke with the Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization members. The nonprofit focuses on helping immigrants, minorities, and people facing physical challenges get out and vote.

___