San Francisco Sun

The Department of Elections in San Francisco has concluded its Fall 2024 High School Student Ambassador Program with a ceremony at City Hall. The event honored 50 student ambassadors from various schools for their contributions to voter awareness and engagement.

This program, held every spring and fall, encourages high school students to participate in the electoral process by educating peers about voting. Through outreach and informational sessions, the ambassadors aim to foster civic responsibility within their communities.

Director John Arntz stated, “The enthusiasm and energy these students bring to civic engagement is inspiring.” He highlighted their efforts in educating peers on voter registration and assisting classmates with pre-registration or registration.

The ceremony also acknowledged the support of families, teachers, and mentors who guided the students. Several ambassadors shared reflections on their experiences:

“I helped teens pre-register to vote. It was inspiring to see my peers recognize the importance of their vote, even before they could cast it."

“The elections ambassadors program left me with a fulfilling feeling of doing good.”

“As an election ambassador, I got to be civically engaged with my community during a big election season.”

“Being a High School Elections Ambassador has taught me a lot about leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement.”

“During my time as an SF Elections Ambassador...I also received a newfound appreciation for America’s democracy.”

The Department of Elections continues to implement programs like this one to engage youth in the electoral process. These initiatives educate young people about voting rights while empowering them to promote civic engagement.