Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel Makes Announcements at Local High School in Honor of National Voter Registration Day

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —  In honor of National Voter Registration Day, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel hosted a special event at Edgewater High School to announce new efforts her office is undertaking in advance of the 2026 election cycle.

At the center of the announcements was the launch of the Supervisor’s Civic Advisory Council, an overarching outreach initiative that will serve as a hub for voter engagement and education across the county. The council will be composed of multiple focus groups; each designed to address the unique needs of specific communities and demographics.

The first group, made up of high school students from each of Orange County’s 23 public high schools, will work to execute voter registration drives in partnership with elections office staff. Additional focus groups, to be rolled out over the next year in advance of the 2026 election, will focus on outreach to a variety of specific communities and demographics. The focus groups and overall council will provide members opportunities to engage directly with the election process, share unique perspectives and shape voter education efforts. Those interested may learn more and apply at ocfelections.gov/CivicAdvisoryCouncil.

Supervisor Dentel was joined by guest speakers Orange County School Board Member Vicki-Elaine Felder, League of Women Voters of Orange County’s Co-President Rev. Kathy Schmitz and Ricardo Negrón-Almodóvar representing All Voting is Local. Speakers discussed the significance of National Voter Registration Day and emphasized the current low rate of citizens registered and pre-registered to vote under the age of 30 in Florida. Three student leaders from Edgewater High School’s Student Government Association also spoke briefly on the importance of pre-registering to vote.

The event also featured additional announcements from the Supervisor’s office, including:

• An “I Voted” Sticker Contest will launch later this week. A select group of OCPS elementary schools will participate in an art competition where students design an official “I Voted” sticker. Winning stickers will be showcased by the Supervisor of Elections.
• The Supervisor of Elections office will serve as a Junior Achievement 3DE Case Challenge this school year at Ocoee High School. The 3DE program re-engineers high school education to be more relevant, experiential and authentically connected to the complexities of the real world.
•  A College Tour will take place this fall. Castor Dentel and staff will visit every local college and university to register students and answer election-related questions.
• Address Confirmation Mailers are soon being sent to all Orange County Voters. These state-mandated mailers are legitimate, nonpartisan, and ensure accurate, up-to-date voter records. Responding to the mailer is highly encouraged and return postage is prepaid; however, voters will not be penalized for lack of response.

“Today’s announcements demonstrate the power of partnership and community engagement,” said Supervisor Castor Dentel. “Through collaboration, we’re embarking on creating a culture of civic participation that reaches every corner of Orange County! On this National Voter Registration Day, we are reminded that democracy is not something we are guaranteed. It is something we build together.”

Footage and photos from the event can be accessed here.

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