Celebrating Our Girls’ Voices: She Votes 2024

As election season comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible work our girls put into this year’s Girls Inc. She Votes program. Throughout the past month, Girls Inc. of Shelbyville & Shelby County joined forces with sister affiliates across the country to participate in She Votes—a national, nonpartisan initiative designed to empower girls to become informed, active citizens by understanding the electoral process.

This year, we made it extra special with a hands-on experience: a mock election where our girls could vote on Girls Inc.’s national theme week for 2025. Girls were educated on their options: youth mental health, equitable quality of education, climate justice, and fair school discipline. With over 90 girls casting their votes, we counted and submitted each ballot to be tallied alongside thousands of others across the Girls Inc. network. Locally, our girls voted for youth mental health (42 votes) followed by climate justice (26 votes), fair school discipline (17 votes), and equitable quality of education (6 votes). The national results will be out soon, but what matters most is that our girls discovered the value of their voices—a lesson we hope stays with them for life.

She Votes isn’t just about learning about how to vote; it’s about helping our girls see themselves as future leaders. They’re learning that their voices can shape not only their own lives but also the communities around them. This experience has given them the confidence to speak up, ask questions, and see themselves as part of important decisions—whether in the voting booth, in the classroom, or in their future workplaces.

For many girls, the idea of voting and making decisions on important issues can feel intimidating. But this mock election, held in a safe and supportive setting, gave them a chance to experience firsthand the power they have to effect change. It was a reminder that they belong in every space where decisions are made.

As we celebrate this milestone with our girls, we’re more inspired than ever to keep building programs that equip girls to shape their futures. At Girls Inc. of Shelbyville & Shelby County, we believe that every vote counts, every voice matters, and every girl has the power to make her mark on the world.