DES MOINES, IOWA (September 9, 2026) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is urging all Iowa high schools to register their eligible students to vote by participating in the prestigious Carrie Chapman Catt Award program, now that the sign-up window has opened as of August 26.
Named after the legendary Iowan who was a national leader in the women's-suffrage movement, the Carrie Chapman Catt program recognizes high schools that support their students in taking the first step toward participation in the election process — registering to vote. Last school year alone, 5,404 high school students registered to vote through the program, with 122 schools participating and 75 receiving recognition. Since the program's launch in 2019, more than 25,000 seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds have registered to vote through the program.
"Iowa's youth is recognizing more and more the importance of exercising their fundamental right to vote and the impact they can make by participating in our election processes," said Sec Pate.
"The Carrie Chapman Catt Award program reflects that — by giving seventeen-year-olds the tools they need to register to vote and take the first steps in being engaged in Iowa elections."
In Iowa, seventeen-year-olds are eligible to register to vote and participate in Primary Elections if they will be 18 by the time of the General Election.
Iowa code requires Iowa high schools to conduct two voter registration drives every school year. Sec Pate aims to support high schools in meeting these requirements through the Carrie Chapman Catt Award program, which provides high schools with all the resources necessary to conduct a successful voter-registration drive. Iowa high schools that register 50%, 70%, and 90% of eligible students receive recognition. Schools that register more than 90% receive the prestigious Carrie Chapman Catt Award and trophy, along with a special award presentation from Sec Pate.
"We saw research that shows high school students who register to vote and learn about the voting process are much more likely to be lifelong, civically-engaged citizens. Iowa elections are better when we have every eligible voter participating, and I'm thrilled that we can support that through the Carrie Chapman Catt Award program," added Sec Pate.
Schools interested in participating in the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and receiving information and resources on conducting a voter-registration drive should visit sos.iowa.gov/youth/carriechapmancattaward.html. Upon registration, schools will receive a detailed action kit outlining the steps to conduct a voter-registration drive, along with other critical resources to support the drive, including promotional materials, pens, voter-registration forms, and more.
The Election Assistance Commission has awarded the Carrie Chapman Catt Award national recognition with a Clearie Award for its efforts to register Iowa youth to vote.
Schools must sign up and submit school participation numbers to the Iowa Secretary of State's office by March 27, 2027. More details about the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and a list of last year's winners are also available at sos.iowa.gov.
