Thank you for voting!
We are creating a culture of voting and it is evident in voter turnout in Texas! Texas ranked number one in the country in early voting, and the high Texas youth vote was noted in articles across the country (and world). While we won’t have exact turnout figures for another week or so, we know that this is something to celebrate. Texas registered voters turned out in numbers and percentages not seen since 1992, and your work modeling civic engagement helped get us there. Thank you, Texas educators!!!
Earlier this week, I took a few minutes to look away from the media coverage of the ongoing ballot count and tuned into Jimmy Kimmel Live. Actress Kerry Washington was on the show explaining how she talks to her kids about voting. She said, “In our house, superheroes are the people who vote and the people who work at the polls and the people who community organize and leave the world a better place.” She explained the importance of helping people understand how important their voice is. Ms. Washington learned that lesson early when her parents brought her with them to vote. She also remembers them taking her out to dinner to celebrate turning 18 and being old enough to vote. I knew I had to write about her when she thanked her 8th grade social studies teacher for teaching her about civics and voting! Yes, parents and teachers, coaches and counselors, principals and bus drivers, and other heroes in our community all model civic engagement for kids.
You’ve done a fantastic job. Keep up the great work educating and modeling civic engagement for students. We are really making progress on creating a culture of voting and we thank you for doing your part!
With great respect and gratitude,
Laura Yeager
Texas Educators Vote