Henderson, East and Rustin high schools are eligible for a statewide challenge to register at least 85 percent of their students to vote before the Nov. 3 general election.

The Governor's Civic Engagement Award program, run jointly by the Departments of State and Education since the 2017-18 school year, launched its 2026-27 cycle on Wednesday, Sept. 16, which was National Voter Registration Day. Schools that hit the 85 percent mark earn Gold Awards. Those reaching 65 percent earn Silver Awards.

Students who help run a registration drive at their school and then serve as poll workers on Election Day can earn individual Student Poll Worker Awards.

No West Chester Area School District high school appeared on the 2025-26 winners list. The only Chester County school recognized was Avon Grove High School, which received a Silver Award. One Chester County student, Brady Y. from Downingtown West High School, earned a Student Poll Worker Award. Statewide, 35 high schools won awards and 633 student poll workers were honored.

No WCASD school made the list.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said the program has helped roughly 33,000 students register since it began nine years ago.

"What better way to celebrate National Voter Registration Day than by highlighting a program that encourages young people to learn about and engage their peers in our electoral system," Schmidt said at the virtual launch, according to MyChesCo.

At the launch event, Lynda Hauman, a social studies teacher and program adviser at Delta High School in Centre County, and Liam Hynes, a 2026 Delta graduate now at Penn State University, shared tips for organizing registration drives. Delta was one of only two schools in the program's history to register 100 percent of its eligible students during the 2025-26 year.

To register to vote, students must be U.S. citizens, residents of their voting district for at least 30 days and at least 18 years old. Students who are 17 but will turn 18 on or before Election Day also qualify. To serve as poll workers, students must be at least 17 and have permission from their principal and a parent or guardian.

Pennsylvania's voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 19. Schools can register for the program through the state's GCEA page.