Speaker Welch and Rep. DuBuclet Join Community Leaders to Advocate for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Bill

CHICAGO – On Saturday, State Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet, D-Chicago, Speaker Welch, community leaders, and members of the Young Voter Empowerment Coalition at the national headquarters of Operation PUSH to highlight efforts to expand civic participation among Illinois youth.

“Your voice matters, your participation matters and democracy belongs to you,” said DuBuclet. “Reverend Jackson always spoke about a simple but powerful dream: that every young person would graduate from high school with a diploma in one hand and a voter registration card in the other.” 

State Rep. DuBuclet introduced House Bill 4339 in January, known as the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, to expand participation in Illinois’ democracy by requiring high schools to provide eligible students with the opportunity to register to vote. Research consistently shows that young people are less likely to participate in elections due to gaps in civic education and the perception that their vote doesn’t matter. Rep. DuBuclet emphasized that her legislation is designed to remove practical barriers while reinforcing civic confidence. 

“All too often, young people in underserved neighborhoods are not registered simply because no  one has walked them through the process,” said DuBuclet. “This legislation ensures that eligible  students are given the opportunity to register to vote while they are still in high school. There are no mandates, no coercion—just access, empowerment and a defining moment in a young  person’s life.” 

House Bill 4339 is structured as a nonpartisan, voluntary initiative focused solely on expanding access to voter registration in trusted educational settings.