Over 70 Armstrong Jr.-Sr. High School students have registered to vote prior to the 2024 Primary Election during a Voter Registration Drive hosted by the Advanced Placement (AP) US Government and Politics students the week of March 11-15. 

AHS is slated to receive the Silver-Level Governor’s Civic Engagement Award for registering over 65% of eligible students during the drive, which was the first in school history. The award serves as a way to encourage students to participate in their government at the local, state, and national levels. 

A total of just under 100 AHS students will be eligible to vote in the 2024 Primary Election.   

The AP Government class planned the drive with the support of over a dozen local sponsors, school administration, and school staff. Platinum sponsors included the ASD Foundation, Troy Alan Buick, the Ford City Eagles, John F. Graff Insurance Agency, Snyder Brothers Inc., Gribik Law, the Armstrong County Democratic Party, the Armstrong County Republican Party, and the 700 Shop. 

Several banner designs and t-shirt designs were created by the 700 Shop to advertise the drive. Every student who registered to vote or showed their prior registration received a free T-shirt proclaiming “MY VOICE MATTERS. I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE.”

Because the State of Pennsylvania operates on a closed primary system, only those registered as a Democrat or Republican are eligible to vote in the Primary Election. Students were reminded of Pennsylvania’s closed primary system for their consideration of those two parties so that they could vote in the upcoming Primary Election on Tuesday, April 23. 

Party registration can be changed at any time, and it is not a requirement to vote in the General Election, which includes the presidential election occurring on November 5, 2024.