ALBANY — Albany High School students as young as 16 will this week have the chance to pre-register to vote during their lunch periods, taking advantage of a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1.

New York is among 14 states that now allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, although they must be 18 before they can cast a ballot. The legislation, part of an extensive electoral reform package signed into law last spring, also requires local boards of education to adopt policies promoting student voter registration and pre-registration.

Volunteers from the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Albany County will team up with Albany High social studies teachers on Thursday in the school's library and register students to vote throughout the day.

During their class periods, students from 20 upper-level government classes will gather in the library to hear about the importance of voting and how to do so from the LWV’s Andrea Lee.

Representatives from Mayor Kathy Sheehan's office will also be on hand to inform students about the 2020 Census and the importance of getting a complete Albany count. Census Day is officially April 1, but Census forms can be filed online to beginning March 12.

“I really appreciate the League and Mayor’s office in their willingness to help us empower our students. I truly believe that this is one of the most important things we can to do to help make a positive change for Albany and beyond," Albany High social studies teacher Sean Fitzsimons said.

The LMV has in the past organized high school voter registration drives in late spring to register the crop of seniors turning 18 that year. With the registration extended to younger high schoolers, the electoral reform group will be conducting outreach in the fall in order to pre-register as many juniors and seniors as possible.

Marggie Skinner, director of advocacy at the Albany LWV, said this week's focus is on 12th graders who will have three opportunities to vote before November's 2020 presidential election. Students who are 18 will be able to vote in the presidential primary on April 28, school board elections and budget vote on May 19, and the primary for state legislative offices, among others, on June 23.

"Last year, we connected with every single high school in Albany County and we hope to do that again," Skinner said.

During 2019's effort, the Albany LMV collected close to 1,000 registration forms from 12 public and private schools in Albany County.

Fewer resources target younger students because they tend to change addresses in high schools and their forms will likely "sit in a box" for two years, Skinner said.

According to United States Census data, less than 20 percent of young people voted in 2014’s midterm elections, compared to about 40 percent of the general population. In Florida, a similar law opening registration to 16- and 17-year-olds helped improve youth voting participation 4.7 percentage points, according to the bill's sponsor, Sen. David Carlucci, D-Rockland.

“The new voter pre-registration law will engage young voters and increase voter turnout not just short term but long term. When young people are engaged from an early age they stay engaged. By eliminating barriers to register and increasing education, we are strengthening our democracy. Right now, young people are demanding political change, and New York will empower all voters early to make their voices heard,” Carlucci said in a statement.

When pre-registered young adults turn 18, they will not have to make a trip to the Board of Elections (BOE) or a state agency to register. They will be automatically registered by their local BOE, according to LWV Executive Director Lara Bierman. Students headed to college will know how to file an absentee ballot, or if they are attending an in-state school, they will be informed of their option to register where they live.

"Typically, in the freshman and sophomore years of college ... they'll file absentee ballots," Bierman said. "By junior or senior year, they are registering where they live because they are starting to get involved in the community around them."

Other districts said they are taking steps to inform students of their right to register by making registration forms available to juniors and seniors in the guidance office. Students, when they turn 18, are also encouraged to vote on their school budget.