The Feminist Club held its first ever voter registration drive event for students Wednesday, Jan. 29. The club partnered with the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, who provided volunteers to help register students.

During the two lunches, the volunteers registered 73 new voters. The organization has hosted registration events at several schools but says this is a record number of students. Head of the youth registrar group for the League of Women Voters Peggy Robb was happy to see students interested in voting. 

“I’m so excited that young voters are engaged,”  Robb said. “[They] can make a difference in our country!”

Carolyne Candrl, a volunteer for the League of Women Voters who helped with registering new voters, was also impressed with the students and their enthusiasm. 

“We were positively impressed with Parkway West students and their student coordinator[s]! Students were prepared and provided needed information to register,” Candrl said. “They were eager and interested when registering to vote. They were lining up as we walked in!”

Senior and co-leader of Feminist Club, Sabrina Bohn, helped coordinate the event. She felt excited that the event was successful and that she could help give this resource to students. 

“It gives me so much hope for the future that people my age are prepared to participate in the political process because we are often the least likely to vote,” Bohn said. “I know during this election, young people will be the biggest generation, and I hope that a majority of us will vote; seeing how many people registered yesterday gives me the hope that that will be true.”  

Senior Fariha Hossain registered to vote because she believed it was her responsibility.

“It a huge responsibility to voice your political opinion. If you have an option to vote and support something, you should,” Hossain said. “You can use your voice to help people.” 

Bohn also believes it’s important to participate in politics through voting. 

 “[Voting] is one of the best ways to use your voice because it shows politicians what their citizens want,” Bohn said. “That is why it’s so important for young people to vote–it allows us to be represented in our communities and our country.”

To register to vote in Missouri, you must be 17-and-a-half years old. This means that all students who register now will be able to vote in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

The primaries will take place March 10, and the presidential election Nov. 3. If you did not get the chance to register during lunch, visit this website to register online.