Rockford high schools compete to register the most students to vote

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford is hosting a contest between Rockford high schools to see which can register the most students to vote.

On Tuesday, representatives visited Guilford High School as part of the “High School Voter Registration Challenge.” Two awards will be given out at the end of the contest: one for the school with the most students who registered to vote; another for the school with the highest percentage of students who registered.

Volunteers from the League have been making stops at several schools over the last few months.

“One of the biggest factors is we are actually in each of the classrooms, and we have volunteers in each classroom, which makes it number one: very convenient; number two: they can talk to us. They can learn what they need to register. And most kids, once they have the appropriate ID to register, are willing to register to vote,” said League of Women Voters Chair Carol Bailey.

The group has been visiting high schools to register voters for years, but 2025 marks the first year they’ve turned it into a challenge, which has seen more students registering.