Voter registration drive held at NYC high schools

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Buttons, stickers, and civic pride awaited the Manhattan Hunter Science High School kids who turned out for student voter registration day.

Two years ago, 8,500 students registered in the 60 schools that participated in the annual event. This year, all 585 of New York City's public schools are joining in as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Democracy NYC initiative.

De Blasio visited Manhattan Hunter during the event, calling the turnout "wonderful" and "encouraging."

The students in front and behind the registration tables are signing up to vote on the issues that matter most to them: Refugees, immigration, gun control, women's rights, LGBT equality, police brutality, and more.

De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza paid a visit to a civics class to hear from this year's newest voters. And after scoping out the registration tables, the mayor said the citywide drive should be the model for more reforms to make voting easier across the whole state.

"We like to think of ourselves as such a progressive, advanced place—well, we're not when it comes to voting laws," de Blasio said. "You cannot register the same day as election here in New York State. And you don't have early voting in New York State."

Nearly 15,000 18-year-olds are already registered to vote in New York. Monday's goal was to get the 110,000 who will be 18 by election day registered as well.