A recap of the first CA State PTA Student Advocacy Voices Webinar
On February 25, 2026, California State PTA launched the Student Advocacy Voices Webinar Series. The kickoff session focused on one of the most powerful ways students can make themselves heard: voting. Presented by The Civics Center, the session brought together PTA members, students, educators, and advocates from across California to learn how to bring student-led voter registration drives to their schools — and why it matters more than ever.
The Problem: Too Many Young Voices Are Going Unheard
The numbers tell a sobering story. Only about 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote nationwide — and despite having some of the most voter-friendly laws in the country, California ranks just 25th in youth registration rates. Why? The traditional paths to registration often miss students entirely: 51% of 18-year-olds don’t have a driver’s license, and 40% don’t go straight to college after high school, so they miss the campus registration drives that so many rely on.
The good news? California has already built a strong foundation. Students can pre-register to vote starting at age 16, student IDs are accepted as first-time voter identification, and the state supports two official voter registration weeks each year (September and April). The infrastructure is there — what’s needed now is activation.
The Solution: Students Leading, Adults Supporting
The session introduced a California State PTA partnership with The Civics Center (TCC), a nonprofit dedicated to closing the youth voter registration gap. Their model is simple and powerful: students are best positioned to reach their peers, while parents and teachers play a critical support role.
For students: You can sign up for a free Run a Drive Workshop — one-hour virtual training sessions offered weekly — and get everything you need to lead a registration drive at your school. TCC also provides custom registration URLs so you can track your school’s impact and even compete on a leaderboard against other schools. Sign up for a workshop here.
For parents: Help activate your school by connecting with administrators and teachers, and sharing TCC’s free resources, including flyers and template emails. Get parent volunteer resources here.
For educators: Download the free California Teacher Toolkit with state-specific data and classroom materials, or schedule a 1:1 training session with TCC.
All of TCC’s resources are completely free. Find the full library at lnk.bio/thecivicscenter.
Now Is the Moment: Cap, Gown, and Ballot
Spring is the ideal window for action. TCC’s Cap, Gown and Ballot campaign is designed for graduation season — the perfect time to reach seniors who are newly eligible to vote. Students who register by May 18, 2026 can vote in the June 2 primary. For many, it will be their first vote ever. Research shows that when young people vote early, they build a lifetime habit of civic participation.
Stay Connected With the Series
The Student Advocacy Voices Webinar Series is just getting started. Future sessions will continue to elevate student voice and provide practical tools for civic engagement across California.
Visit the Student Advocacy Voices Webinar Series page to access the recording of this kickoff session, register for upcoming webinars, and find all related resources in one place.
Have questions about voter registration drives or want to bring The Civics Center programming to your school? Contact TCC’s team directly: Molly Ford at molly@thecivicscenter.org or Leslie Ortiz at lortiz@thecivicscenter.org. For questions related to CA PTA’s Legislative Advocacy work, reach out to advocacy@capta.org.
Together, we can ensure every eligible student in California has the opportunity — and the encouragement — to make their voice count.
The Student Advocacy Voices Webinar Series is proudly sponsored by College Board.