Sponsored by their local electric co-ops, nearly 100 high school juniors descended upon a very busy Kentucky State Capitol on Thursday as part of the annual Frankfort Youth Tour.
Thursday was the second last day of the pre-veto period of the General Assembly and legislators gaveled in at 9 a.m. to handle dozens of outstanding bills.
After hearing from Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, touring the Capitol and having professional head shots taken on the Capitol steps, the rising young leaders filled the galleries of both the House and Senate to witness the legislative process.
The students were wowed by an East Kentucky Power Cooperative bucket truck, allowed to extend its bucket high into the air between the Capitol and the Annex. An EKPC crew gave a safety demonstration and answered questions.
During lunch, the students met local lawmakers, and visited booths featuring Kentucky Living, the statewide safety team, and information on voter registration and co-op careers.
The students heard from two of the founding co-chairs of the Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus, Sen. Robin Webb and Rep. Wade Williams. Both legislators addressed energy issues and answered several questions from students about coal’s place in Kentucky’s energy mix.
Rep. Samara Heavrin, who participated in the youth tour program 15 years ago while a Meade County RECC member, addressed the delegation, sharing personal insights about the realities of elected office.
The day was capped off by the launch of Co-ops Vote 2025. For the tenth consecutive year, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are partnering with the secretary of state on Co-ops Vote, a non-partisan initiative to boost voter registration and turnout.
Secretary of State Michael Adams announced the initiative for this year, noting that there are no scheduled elections in Kentucky in 2025, but students can register to vote in advance.
“The race for the 2026 elections is already underway, including for a U.S. Senate seat that hasn’t been open since 1972,” Secretary of State Michael Adams explained to the youth tour delegation. “As politically red areas in the Commonwealth get redder and blue areas get bluer, party primaries matter more than ever. Yet only 10%-15% of registered voters participate in the primaries. We strongly encourage rural voters to take advantage of recent improvements to the election process and to be heard in the next election.”
Over the years, the partnership between Co-ops Vote with the Frankfort Youth Tour has inspired students to become active participants in their communities and the democratic process. Students have stepped up to become Co-ops Vote Ambassadors, hosting voter registration drives in their hometowns.
