‘Empowering': Chicago students celebrate first time voting at ‘Parade to the Polls'

Cheers of “we got a new voter!” greeted students casting their first ballots Wednesday at Chicago’s downtown voting supersite, where a milestone in civic participation became a celebration. Chicago Votes’ annual “Parade to the Polls” brought high school students to the supersite at South State Street and West Adams Street to vote, with a focus on helping students of color participate in the 2026 Illinois general election and understand the power of their votes. Mayor Brandon Johnson joined students on a bus ride to the polling place. But the day’s most personal moments belonged to the young voters stepping into the process for the first time. “I feel amazing. Voting really does matter to me and my family,” said Hester Ouedraogo, a student at Baker College Prep. For Ouedraogo, casting a ballot carried significance beyond her own first election. “I come from a family full of immigrants who came to the United States looking for citizenship and opportunity, so I’m really hap