-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
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Secretary of State Paul Pate visits with Thomas Arnold, 11, Monday after speaking to St. Edmond students about the importance of voting.
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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate visited St. Edmond Catholic School Monday to promote the Iowa Youth Straw Poll and encourage students to be civically engaged citizens. This statewide event gives students across Iowa a chance to engage in the democratic process by voting in a mock election.
More than 100 schools across the state are participating in the 2026 Iowa Youth Straw Poll this week, where students cast their unofficial vote for their preference in races such as governor and U.S. senator.
Pate stressed the overall importance of voter education during his visit, in honor of the Iowa Youth Straw Poll and National Voter Education Week, Oct. 5-9.
