Chicago Bears Partner with Cook County to Empower Young Voters

The Cook County Clerk’s Office has launched a new initiative aimed at engaging young voters by teaming up with the Chicago Bears. The program, named “Defenders of DA’mocracy,” is designed to encourage 17-year-olds and other high school students to participate in local elections by serving as election judges. The inaugural training for this program began recently, with approximately 150 students from various suburban high schools participating in a series of sessions to prepare for their roles.

Among the students eager to take part is Melissa Loch, a politically engaged 17-year-old from Arlington Heights. She has never voted before but is excited to cast her ballot for the first time this year. Loch has decided to become an election judge, viewing the experience as an opportunity to understand the voting process and contribute to her community. “I want to get involved, help people vote and help democracy,” she stated, underscoring her desire to learn about the electoral system.

Boosting Youth Engagement in Elections

Historically, young people have voted at lower rates compared to older demographics. According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, the trend has begun to shift with recent elections, but challenges remain. In Cook County, voter turnout among individuals aged 18 to 22 has been dismal, with less than 1% participating in municipal elections and 2-4% in midterms. Deputy Clerk of Elections Edmund Michalowski highlighted the importance of motivating younger voters, noting that barriers like confusing registration processes and insufficient outreach have hindered participation.

The “Defenders of DA’mocracy” program addresses these issues by allowing students to operate early voting sites at their schools. This initiative will enable students to run polling places that will be open exclusively to eligible students and school staff for one day on February 26, 2026, ahead of the primary elections beginning on March 2, 2026. Michalowski emphasized the uniqueness of this approach, stating, “It just adds a different layer to our democracy. It’s theirs. They’re running it, they know about it, they can promote it.”

Support from the Chicago Bears

The involvement of the Chicago Bears adds a community spirit to the initiative. The team is providing branded merchandise, including an orange and blue early voting handbook, to encourage student participation. During a training session, students received a motivational video message from the Bears, further energizing their commitment to the voting process. Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon expressed her hope that this initiative could inspire a broader movement across Illinois and beyond, remarking, “Strong elections don’t just happen. Like a winning game plan, they depend on people who show up, learn their roles and work together to get it right.”

As part of the training, students completed a written test about their responsibilities as election judges. Experienced officials guided them through the material, ensuring they left with a solid understanding of the electoral process. Erik Kunicki, a junior at Buffalo Grove High School, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “I hope that (this will help) people see how important voting is, and how it’s not that scary.”

Through the “Defenders of DA’mocracy” program, the Cook County Clerk’s Office aims to empower young voters and foster a sense of civic responsibility among students, hoping to create a more informed and engaged electorate for the future.