New York: 150,000 18-year-olds remain unregistered to vote in the Empire State
You gotta be kidding!
Only 40% of New York State’s 250,000 18-year-olds are registered and ready to vote in the upcoming primary. Compare that to residents aged 45+ who are registered at 77%, and it’s not OK.
What gives, New York? You’re getting your butts kicked by Michigan (63%) and Colorado (54%) in terms of ensuring your first-time voters are ready to get in the game. Why is New York state letting its teens down?
Not for nothing, but it’s been 5 years since New York legalized preregistration starting at age 16; that means we have an extra two years to help young people understand why it matters and how to get it done. Yet only 20.5% of youth in those age groups are preregistered. That’s up 2.2 percentage points since February 2024 and 4 percentage points since February 2023. Which is a a step in the right direction, but still, 20.5% is nothing to write home about. In New York City, only 8% of 16- and 17-year-olds are preregistered, and only 28% of the City’s 18-year-olds are ready to vote in the state’s primary election scheduled for June 25.
There are some positive forces at play: Online voter registration is now available statewide and does not require a state ID. That’s a huge help in a state where so many do not drive.
On July 1, 2024, a new law will go into effect that requires school boards, as well as boards of cooperative educational services, charter schools, and non public schools to have adopted policies to promote student voter registration and preregistration. The New York City Bar Association has published guidance for school boards and communities on how to implement the state’s preregistration law and other requirements.
The final, and perhaps the most important, opportunity lies with the students themselves. All across the state, young people will be graduating by the end of the month. They can take action to hold voter registration drives for their peers. The Civics Center offers free training for students and office hours for educators who want to help them.
If you are a teen or educator, register and get trained to register others. If you know teens, educators, parents, or grandparents, or if you want to reach out to school district officials in your community, who will be working all summer long, an introduction and some friendly urging just might be the spark that lights a fire.
October 26–just 4 months from now–is the deadline to register for the November 5 general election.
Let’s get it together. It’s up to us.
Registration rates for 18-year-olds
Preregistration rates for 16- and 17-year-olds