Increasing Youth Voter Turnout in Pima County, Arizona Means First Increasing Youth Voter Registration

Recent reports have called attention to low youth voter turnout in the 2020 presidential primaries. If this trend continues in the general election in November, look to low youth voter registration rates as a driving factor. 

In Arizona, for example, 17-year-olds can register to vote if they will be 18 by the date of the general election.  This creates a great opportunity for high school students to register to vote before they graduate, but the law is underused. 

Focusing on Pima County as an example, as of March 2020, only 7,199 of the county’s approximately 27,500 17- and 18-year-olds (approximately 26%) are registered to vote. Only about 1,700 17-year-olds have taken advantage of the early registration system, accounting for approximately 12% of all 17-year-olds in the county. In comparison, approximately 5,500 18-year-olds in Pima County are registered to vote, representing 40% of county residents of that age.

The number of these young newly-registered voters has increased significantly (approximately 49%) since the summer of 2019. This large percentage increase is due in part to the low rate of registration overall and the low numbers just a few months ago.  

As of July 2019, only approximately 3% of 17-year-olds had pre-registered. Registration among 18-year-olds has also increased significantly (by more than 20%) since the summer of 2019.

In the area of the county marked by Pima County’s largest school district, Tucson Unified, 887 17-year olds are pre-registered (approximately 12% of 17-year-olds living in the district). Ajo Unified School District, in Ajo, Arizona, boasts the highest percentage of 17-year-olds pre-registered at approximately 25%. Indian Oasis School District has the lowest percentage of 17-year-olds pre-registered at approximately 3%.  

Every district with high schoolers now has over 25% of 18-year-olds registered to vote, however in most districts, the percentage of 18-year-olds who are registered remains below 50%. 

With only eight months left until the general election in November, anyone who cares about low youth turnout should look first to registration.   

17- and 18-year-old Voter Registration Rates in Pima County (2019 and 2020)