Before many of them have even cast their first ballot, Kentucky high school students are helping their classmates take an important first step toward the polls.

This fall, 14 high school seniors participating in Kentucky Electric Cooperatives’ Co-op Champions program led voter registration drives in their schools and communities, encouraging fellow young Kentuckians to register ahead of the 2026 general election.

The students previously served as delegates on the weeklong Electric Cooperative Washington Youth Tour. The Co-op Champions program gives former delegates an opportunity to bring those experiences home, putting lessons about leadership, government and civic engagement into action in their own communities.

Bringing civic engagement home

As part of the program, each Co-op Champion hosted a Co-ops Vote registration drive with support from their local electric cooperative.

Co-ops Vote is a nonpartisan initiative of America’s electric cooperatives designed to encourage civic engagement and voter participation.

Kentucky’s 2026 effort began in March during the Frankfort Youth Tour, where Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams joined more than 90 high school juniors.

Throughout the fall, registration efforts moved into high school hallways, cafeterias and classrooms across the state. Students worked with school leaders, classmates and their local electric cooperatives to create opportunities for young people to get involved close to home.

“By encouraging young Kentuckians to register, speak up, and get involved, we’re empowering them to shape their communities and the future of our Commonwealth,” Adams said.

Co-op Champions across Kentucky

Students participating in voter registration efforts included:

  • Jackson Purchase Energy: Grant Seaton, McCracken County High School, Paducah
  • Nolin RECC: Madison Smith, Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center, Elizabethtown
  • Owen Electric: Lillian Grothaus and Noah Wodrig, Walton County Old Fashion Day, Walton
  • Salt River Electric: Kate Jarboe, Walton County Old Fashion Day, Walton; Eli Kennington, Mason Mattingly and George Thomas, Bullitt East High School, Mt. Washington
  • Pennyrile Electric: Kady Fuller, Trigg County High School, Cadiz; Brayana Jones, Christina County High School, Hopkinsville
  • South Kentucky RECC: Micah Pryor and Gabby McGinnis, Wayne County High School, Monticello
  • West Kentucky RECC: Emily Wade, Calloway County High School, Murray
  • Taylor County RECC: John Zottman, Taylor County High School, Campbellsville

View photos and video from the voter registration drives.

From Youth Tour to community leadership

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives coordinates both the Frankfort Youth Tour and Washington Youth Tour, experiences designed to give young people firsthand exposure to local and federal government while encouraging civic involvement and community leadership.

For this year’s Co-op Champions, that experience didn’t end when the Youth Tour buses arrived home. Their voter registration drives provided another opportunity to lead, this time in their own schools and communities, while helping a new generation of Kentucky voters find its voice.