DEARBORN — As young people become more involved in this year’s presidential elections, some organizations are doubling down to make sure the youth of Dearborn and neighboring cities are registered to vote.

The League of Women Voters, an organization dedicated to increasing participation in government, visited a handful of schools in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights with a mission to register as many eligible students as possible.

The group registered about 481 high school students, according to Betsy Cushman, president of the League of Women Voters of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights.

Cushman said the League joined efforts with ACCESS to ensure young people had the opportunity to be properly informed and are given a voice to shape their government and future.

Armed with forms and pamphlets, volunteers visited classrooms and set up booths at eight schools, answering questions and urging students to register.

For many students, this is the only opportunity they are afforded to register to vote, Cushman said. After high school, not many people are approached about voter registration.

She added that Fordson High School students signed up in massive numbers at 207 registrations, aside from the 60 more applications sent home.

“Every one of their vote is important,” Cushman stressed.

Studies have shown that mobilizing people to vote at a young age ensures that they vote regularly in the future, according to Cushman.

In Dearborn, more than 58,000 residents are registered to vote, but only about 34 percent voted in Tuesday’s primary election.

Ali Hammoud, former head of the Arab American Political Action Committee, estimates that around 20,000 to 25,000 Arab Americans are registered to vote in Dearborn — a dramatic increase from five years ago.

Hammoud said that Arab American voter turnout doubled in this year’s primary compared to previous ones, because of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign, which extensively reached out to Arab American community members, leaders and students.

As an ethnic minority, he urged that Arab Americans be informed about candidates’ stances, registration and voting deadlines and where to vote. Doing so can directly influence laws that affect every residents’ daily lives, he said.

“Voting, especially at a local level, can make a huge difference. You can actually influence the type of policies that come out of your city,” Hammoud said.

Voting and registration information

The deadline to register to vote for the May 3 primary is Monday, April 4.

To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen; be 18-years-old by Election Day; be a resident of Michigan and at least a 30 day resident of your city or township by Election Day.

To register, residents should visit the Dearborn City Clerk at 16901 Michigan Ave. or any Secretary of State branch office.

Dearborn residents must vote at their designated polling place within their precinct. Precincts include several schools and churches, as well as the Dearborn City Hall at 13615 Michigan Ave.

Voters must bring a photo ID such as a driver’s license or a state issued ID.

For additional voter and registration information, visit vote411.org.