It’s a contest begun by the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Annapolis, Md (KM) A voter registration drive has begun in Maryland. Sponsored by the State Board of Elections, it’s an effort to get more high school seniors who are nearing the age of 18 to register to vole.
Jared DeMarinis, the State Administrator of Elections, says its about empowering Maryland’s youth. “The 2026 election is Maryland’s election,” he says. “Statewide offices are up as well as all the county offices. So it’s important that every student that is eligible should be registered and wanting to vote.”
DeMarinis says a lot of young Marylanders are not registering to vote when they turn 18 years of age. “Approximately one out of three 18-year-olds are not currently registered to vote, according to a recent report by the Civic Center,” he says. “Additionally, there’s a national decline with youth in getting driver’s licenses because Maryland is an automatic voter registration state. So if you go to Motor Vehicles, you would be automatically registered to vote.”
“Young Marylanders are reflective of society in general with some apathy towards voting,” DeMarinis adds.
The contest encourages seniors in high school to persuade their fellow classmates who are approaching the age of 18 to register to vote. “If you get 90 percent or more of the eligible seniors, we will honor that class in May,” Demarinis says. “So you have until their graduation. In May of ’26., we will send out a press release honoring those classes that have achieved that 90 percent mark.”
But DeMarinis says he would like the goal to be more than 90 percent. “I want to get 100 percent. I’m starting the bar at 90 percent, and moving it up from there,” he says.
This contest creates a different kind of rivalry for high schools. “High schools always try to beat their rivals. My guess is ‘hey, you may not beat them on the football field or the soccer field. Register to vote, you’ll at least beat in the polls,”’ says DeMarinis.
But does he think this contest will work in getting more young people to register to vote.; “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think so, I’m all for it.” he says.
In Maryland, people who turn 18 are eligible to vote. 17-year-olds can vote in the primaries if they turn 18 by the time of the general election which is in November. 16-year-olds can work as election judges.
By Kevin McManus