Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is calling on high schools across the state to register eligible students to vote through the Carrie Chapman Catt Award program — and several local schools have already been leading the way.
The program, named after the Iowa native who helped lead the national women’s suffrage movement, recognizes high schools that help students register to vote. In the 2024-25 school year, nearly 5,000 high school students registered to vote through the program across 60 counties, with 120 schools participating and 62 receiving recognition. Pate said: “More than 5,000 high school students registered to vote this school year as part of this program. They join the list of more than 20,000 Iowa high school students that have registered to vote since the program’s launch. This is no small feat. These young leaders are taking the first step in making their voices heard and influencing their community. I applaud them for their enthusiasm, passion, and leadership.”
The following year, those numbers grew further — 122 schools across 61 counties signed up to host voter registration drives in 2025-26, with 75 schools receiving recognition and 5,415 students registering to vote. Of those schools, 49 registered at least 90 percent of eligible seniors to earn the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and trophy, seven large schools with more than 300 students registered at least 100 eligible seniors to earn the Capitol Award trophy, 12 schools registered at least 70 percent of eligible students to earn a banner award, and seven schools registered at least 50 percent to earn a certificate award. Since the program launched in 2019, more than 25,000 17- and 18-year-olds have registered to vote through it. The program has also received national recognition from the Election Assistance Commission with a Clearie Award.
“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,” Pate said. “The Carrie Chapman Catt Award program reflects that — by giving 17-year-olds the tools they need to register to vote and take the first steps in being engaged in Iowa elections.”
Locally, Fairfield High School in Jefferson County has been a standout participant, winning the award four consecutive years by registering 100 percent of eligible seniors in 2022-23, 94 percent in 2023-24, 90 percent in 2024-25, and 96 percent in 2025-26. Keota High School in Keokuk County has also received the award in each of the past three years.
The annual registration drives at Fairfield High School are organized by social sciences teacher Jake Engle, who held the school’s first registration drive of the current school year last week. Engle said the effort is about more than meeting a state requirement. “I think it’s important for everyone to be civically engaged, especially students who are voting for the first time,” Engle said. “Local elections can be decided by very small margins, so student participation can truly make a difference. Decisions are being made every day that directly affect our communities, and if we want young people to return and become active members of those communities, we need to make sure they have a voice in those decisions. Whether they’re voting for governor, city council, or a local school bond issue, their participation matters.”
In Iowa, 17-year-olds can register to vote and participate in primary elections if they will be 18 by the time of the general election. Iowa law requires high schools to conduct two voter registration drives every school year. The program provides schools with all the resources needed to conduct a successful voter registration drive, including promotional materials, voter registration forms, and more. Schools that register 50 percent, 70 percent, and 90 percent of eligible students receive recognition. Schools that register more than 90 percent receive the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and trophy, along with a special award presentation from 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,” Pate said. “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.”
Registration for the 2026-27 Catt Awards opened August 27th, 2026, and schools interested in participating can 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. Schools must sign up and submit participation numbers to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office by March 27th, 2027. More details about the program and a list of last year’s winners are available at sos.iowa.gov.
As Carrie Chapman Catt herself once said: “Progress is calling to you to make no pause. Act.”
