18 Spartans Become Official Voters at SSES Voter Registration Drive

This senior year is filled with many firsts and this November, 18 seniors will head to the polls for the first time in their lives.

“I’ve been waiting for this for 18 years,” said Leigh Wittliff ’25 with a grin as she filled out her voter registration form at the St. Stephen’s annual voter registration drive on the Chapel lawn that coincided with National Voter Registration Day on September 17. The nonpartisan civic U.S. holiday aims to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities and celebrate democracy.

During the event, supportive seniors gathered around their friends as they completed the official voter registration. History Department Chair Shelley Sallee and parents of the class of 2025 organized the event and were assisted by Deputy Voter Registrar Gia Ramza P ’22 ’24 who has helped out on campus for the last four years.

In the days leading up to the registration drive, students activated a voter and civic engagement program during Upper School chapel. Libby Miller ’25 and Felix Eugene ’25 stepped up to the microphone with lots of enthusiasm not only encouraging students to vote but also encouraging crowd participation with a fun clapping game. They asked students a series of funny and serious questions. The crowd cast their votes by clapping, loudly or softly. The question that got the most claps and the loudest was the idea of a “free seating” day at lunch during early voting, which begins October 21. Dean of Students Philip Doig gave his approval with a thumbs up while leaning over the Chapel balcony. 

Ayaan Moledina ’27 also took time to share what his peers, who are not of voting age yet, could do now to get involved. Moledina shared that he is the federal policy director at Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), an organization working to involve young people in policymaking. Moledina explained the ways he has advocated for students to get a seat on school boards in a non-voting capacity.  

Isa Whiteley Bermeo ’25, who moved with her family to the U.S. from Ecuador, also shared a personal anecdote. Bermeo described the day her mother was beaming with pride when she voted for the first time in the 2016 U.S. election. 

“What I remember the most, was [when] she picked my brother and me up from school,” said Bermeo. Her mom had stuck the “Yo Voté” sticker she got after voting at the polls on her rearview mirror.  

Gabe Sahely ’25 and Leela Weisser ’25 talked about the growing trend of increased turnout in Texas among young voters, even as the Lone Star state trails other states in the polls. Weisser also shared what she has learned about factors that make it difficult to vote, and challenged her peers.

“As capable young voters, and future voters this cannot dissuade you from exercising your right to democracy,” Weisser told the Upper School crowd.

Wondering if you are registered to vote, or have questions about where to vote on Election Day?
Click here if you live in Texas. Click here to visit the official voter registration website of the U.S. government.