Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced a new milestone for his Student Ambassador Program. 175 high schools and organizations in ninety-four counties will participate in Kemp’s leadership initiative encouraging civic engagement and voter registration among young adults. Starting next month, over 1,500 sophomores, juniors, and seniors will attend training across the Peach State as the program’s yearly competition begins.

“Since the program’s inception, we have seen tremendous personal growth among our Student Ambassadors as they take on leadership roles in their schools, organizations, and communities. They are excited to be a part of this initiative to build their résumés and prepare for life beyond high school, and their teachers are enthusiastic about the program’s results,” stated Secretary Kemp. “In three years, thousands of students have registered to vote as a direct result of this program.”

Following the program’s initiation, electronic voter registration among eighteen-year-olds has more than doubled through the state’s online platform and free “GA SOS” mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Prior to the program’s pilot year in 2016, only 8,132 young adults registered to vote using the state’s electronic platforms. Now, 16,737 young adults – and counting – have electronically registered to vote in Georgia.

“This program is truly one-of-a-kind, and it will continue to flourish as word about its success spreads across the state. Thousands of young adults who were previously uninterested or unaware about the nation’s electoral process now show an overwhelming desire to get involved. We are appealing to this generation’s need to make a lasting impact on their surroundings, and we are building an informed electorate in the process.”

In January of 2016, Kemp implemented the pilot program with fourteen Georgia high schools and 160 students. Next month, the program’s third year will kick-off with a statewide tour with events in metro-Atlanta for Middle and North Georgia schools; at Georgia Southern University for Coastal and Southeast Georgia schools; and in the Tift region for Southwest Georgia schools. Students will learn how to register their peers to vote, plan community service events, and engage with their local officials. The first and largest event in the statewide tour occurs on September 6, 2017 with 1,100 high-schoolers at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Throughout the year, students compete against other schools’ teams in statewide and regional competitions where they amass points by hosting voter registration drives and volunteering within their communities. Newnan High School won last year’s statewide competition. The statewide and regional winners of this year’s competition will be announced in April 2018.

Leading up to last year’s presidential election, Student Ambassadors hosted over sixty voter registration drives across Georgia. Last school year, the Ambassadors educated over 15,000 Georgia high school students on the importance of voting and participating in elections.