GOTV 4 Teens founder Letina Brady Pettis, left, during a voter registration drive event held at Wendell Phillips Academy High School on Feb. 14, 2024. (Courtesy of GOTV 4 Teens)

Some teenagers in Illinois who are too young to vote for this year's primary and general election are already preparing for their first chance to vote in other future elections.

That’s because individuals 16 years old or older can now pre-register to vote in the state and have their application held until voting age, as part of a new law that went into effect this year.

As of Tuesday, 3,570 individuals have pre-registered to vote, according to an Illinois State Board of Elections spokesperson. Of that total, 2,954 are 16 years old and 616 are 17 years old.

Since 2014, 17-year-olds in Illinois have been able to register and vote in primary elections as long as they are 18 by the general election.

Younger voters historically have had lower turnout in elections compared to older age groups, with the lowest voter turnout typically among voters ages 18-24.

The organization Get Out The Vote (GOTV) 4 Teens works to further educate and empower young people about the voting process by holding voter registration drives at various schools in Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area.

Part of that education involves talking to students about the history of voting rights in the U.S., which makes voting more personal to them, GOTV 4 Teens founder Letina Brady Pettis said.

The schools that GOTV 4 Teens organizers have visited include Simeon Career Academy, Sullivan High School, Wendell Phillips Academy High School and more.

Brady Pettis, who is also a League of Women Voters of Chicago member, said during these voter registration events, students tell her about the issues that matter to them such as mental health, gun violence and resources in their community.

However, some young people sometimes feel they aren’t being listened to and that their voice doesn’t matter, Brady Pettis said.

“We always have that group of people who feel like their voice doesn't matter, but we keep encouraging them, letting them know that your voice does matter,” Brady Pettis said. “There’s strength in numbers.”

Those interested in pre-registering to vote can apply online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Online voter registration will re-open March 21.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]