As Driving Declines, So Does Democracy
As fewer teens get driver’s licenses, DMV-based voter registration systems are leaving millions of young people without a clear path to register to vote.
A Pro-Democracy Action for Your Community: Get Students Registered to Vote
A practical guide for using The Civics Center’s state resources to get students registered to vote, share key deadlines, and help new voters prepare for their first election.
INTERVIEW: Youth Voter Investigation Helps NYC Students Take Action
NYC students used data, discussion, and local research to explore youth voter registration and plan projects that support stronger civic participation.
Spotlight on Pennsylvania – In big elections registered youth turn out at high rates
Registered 18-year-olds in Pennsylvania turn out at high rates in major elections, challenging the idea that young voters are apathetic.
What Is the Rule of Law?
Laura W. Brill reflects on the rule of law, voting rights, and civic responsibility, drawing from history and personal experience to examine how individuals respond when institutions falter.
The Civics Center Responds to Louisiana v. Callais
A statement from CEO Laura W. Brill responding to the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais and its implications for voting rights protections in the United States.
Harvard IOP finds young Americans are losing faith in democracy
A new Harvard IOP poll highlights declining trust among young Americans in democracy and elections, raising concerns about participation and long-term civic engagement.
The League of Women Voters and The Civics Center Join Forces to Empower Young Americans
The League of Women Voters and The Civics Center announce a national partnership to support student-led voter registration drives in high schools across the United States.
New Online Tools Create On-Ramp to US Democracy for Youngest Voters
New state-by-state resources from The Civics Center help high school communities understand voter registration rules, preregistration options, and deadlines, and provide tools to support student-led voter registration drives.
Did your AP Gov Teacher Help You Get Registered to Vote?
New voter file data from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio reveals a growing youth voter registration gap. Month-by-month data shows how many students are missing from voter rolls and why stronger school-based registration efforts matter.
What You Can Do Now
Cap Gown and Ballot helps students and educators organize voter registration drives in high schools so seniors graduate registered, informed, and ready to vote.
How the SAVE Act Bill Could Affect High School Students
The SAVE Act would require passports or birth certificates to register to vote, a barrier that could block millions of newly eligible young voters.
New Resource: Voter Registration in High Schools by State
A guide to state laws requiring high schools to support voter registration, including form distribution, registration drives, education, and compliance policies.
Civics Education, Democracy, and Voting
Civics education should prepare students not only to understand democracy but to participate in it. Yet youth voter registration remains dramatically lower than among older Americans. Closing that gap starts with integrating voting education and registration into high school life.
Why Is California’s Democracy Leaving Our Students Behind?
Fewer than 12% of California teens are preregistered to vote, leaving more than 900,000 eligible young people outside the state’s democratic process and raising concerns about youth participation in democracy.
Young Voter Registration Gap: New data Shows Under 25% Registered in PA & OH, Under 50% in NY & NJ
New data highlights a severe young voter registration gap in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, where many eligible 18-year-olds remain unregistered despite strong turnout when registered.
The Civics Center Announces New Partnership with CenterLink
The Civics Center and CenterLink announce a partnership to train students and LGBTQ organizations to lead high school voter registration drives nationwide.
SAVE Act Bills Could Block Millions From Voting in the U.S.
The SAVE Act and related bills threaten to restrict voter registration nationwide, putting millions of eligible Americans at risk of being excluded from elections and reshaping how voting works in the U.S.
Young Voters Face Too Many Barriers
A little-known fact of American democracy is that most high school students are old enough to register to vote. Yet our systems make it far harder than it should be. In this piece for U.S. News & World Report, we explore the barriers young voters face and what needs to change.
To the 16 million US high school students who are watching Minneapolis and wondering what it means for them.
High school students across the country are watching Minneapolis and asking what it means for them. This article reflects on power, protest, commitment, and the role young people play in shaping democracy when moments feel urgent and uncertain.