Secretary Michael Watson poses for a picture with winners of the 2021 Promote the Vote essay contest during an awards ceremony at the Two Mississippi Museums.
 

JACKSON — Secretary Michael Watson honored K-12 students and teachers during a special awards ceremony at the Two Mississippi Museums Thursday. The event marked the conclusion of the 2021 Promote the Vote program, a longstanding voter education effort consisting of mock elections, contests, and elections curriculum. The 2021 "Vote Local" theme encouraged students to learn about Mississippi's municipal elections process. 

"Typically, our youth only hear about voting around the time of statewide or presidential elections, so it was important for us to shine a light on the local races which have as much, if not more, of an impact on their lives,” said Secretary Watson. "Whether it was through writing or illustration, our Promote the Vote winners successfully showcased their knowledge of local offices and the importance of civic engagement."

Click here to view a list of contests winners.

More than 31,000 students participated in the 2021 Promote the Vote program. Our office continued our partnership with Mississippi Public Broadcasting's (MPB) Education Department to encourage school, teacher, and student participation. In addition to the art and essay contests, MPB organized a social media contest to boost participation and spark friendly competition across the state.

“Mississippi Public Broadcasting is proud to play a role in this vital program with our friends at the Secretary of State’s Office,” said Teresa Collier, MPB Interim Executive Director and Director of News. “Promote the Vote utilizes an innovative approach to instill the importance of civic engagement, the election process and the right to vote. Together, we are building the next generation of voters.”

Promote the Vote is a nonpartisan program free to participating schools. Details regarding registration for the 2022 program will be announced here on our website.

 
 
For specific questions regarding the Promote the Vote program, please contact: 

ptv@sos.ms.gov
601-359-6344