Thomas Quinn, Central High School (Philadelphia) Social Studies teacher, was honored last October at the 67th Annual (first virtual) Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS) Conference with the PCSS President’s Award for his work engaging young people in our democracy.
His voting registration education efforts continue today, on the day the United States Supreme Court is taking up a case about Arizona restrictions on ballot collection and another policy that penalizes voters who cast ballots in the wrong precinct. The high court’s consideration comes as Republican officials in the state and around the country have proposed more than 150 measures, following last year’s elections, to restrict voting access that civil rights groups say would disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic voters.
Whatever the Supreme Court ultimately decides, Pennsylvania has a new statewide effort crossing the urban/rural divide, connecting educators and students with resources and advocacy, and dramatically increasing youth voter turnout - permanently!
Quinn asks you to check out
PA Youth Vote! -
He adds:
Since working with local partners to get a 74% voter turnout rate among 18-year-olds in Philly, 8% higher than the city’s overall turnout in 2020, we’ve been inspired to take our efforts statewide to show that youth care about issues and policies, and candidates should take them seriously in every election.
Our fledgling coalition includes youth, educators, schools, officials, and organizations coordinating efforts to make sure young people have access to the information needed to register, and to learn about the offices, candidates, and questions to cast an informed vote. We recently joined the PA Department
of State in a voter registration and information and strategy session for educators. We are also partnering with the Committee of Seventy to bridge the gap between politicians and youth by arranging candidate interviews in classrooms. In 2021, young Pennsylvanians have important races for municipal and appellate judges, local row officers, and school board members to vote for that will have major impacts on their lives.
Please join us to:
Join us by signing up at
PAyouthvote.org!
And follow us on social media:
Instagram @PAyouthvote
Facebook @PAyouthvote
Twitter @PAyouthvote
Contact Thomas Quinn, Director of Education
quinn@PAyouthvote.org
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