Low Voter Registration Rates Among Teens Threaten To Depress Youth Voter Turnout in 2022 Midterm Elections
TCC found the average pre-18 registration rate was just 12% among the 17 states and Washington, D.C. that provided data (see chart below). Indeed, only four states—Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, and Utah—have a pre-18 registration rate of 20% or higher.
Youth voters in New York City high schools could shift the Mayoral race, if they’re registered
Tens of thousands of potential new voters will be graduating from New York City’s high schools in June, and polls show that next month’s primary election for New York City Mayor is a wide-open race. These youth voters could play a decisive role in the outcome of the election, but only if they are registered to vote.
New York expanded voter preregistration to age 16. A year later, and with a Mayoral election on the horizon, most people haven’t noticed.
Only 61,567 of the state’s 16- and 17-year-olds were preregistered to vote as of April 2021. That represents just 13% of the approximately 484,317 youth in that age demographic.
The Pandemic Led to a Steep Decline in California’s Preregistration Rates: Our Systems Should Evolve to Meet the Moment
The California Secretary of State recently published the state’s most recent youth voter preregistration statistics from February 10, 2021. This report has illuminated a troubling trend for youth engagement and preregistration.
Preregistration Is Taking Hold in California, and We Still Have a Long Way to Go
The California Secretary of State recently published the state’s youth voter preregistration statistics as of September 2020. Although school closures and the cancellation of summer events have led to a short-term decline in preregistration numbers, the long-term picture appears brighter.
Happy Mother’s Day! 2020 Edition: Calling all moms.
A lot of lofty generalizations float around on Mother’s Day. One generalization that is often ignored is that moms perform a lot of unpaid labor at home and at work and solve problems that result from a lack of public planning. I know a lot of moms now who, when they are not worried about health and the economy, are worried about our democracy.
Arizona’s Low Voter Pre-Registration Numbers
According to The Civics Center’s analysis, only approximately 2,527 of 17-year-olds in Arizona have taken advantage of the early registration law as of mid-2019. That represents just about 2.69% of the 17-year-olds in the state.
Students in North Carolina Take Advantage Of Voter Preregistration Law
As reported by a new analysis released today by The Civics Center, as of August 2019, an estimated 39% of 16- and 17-year-olds in the state were pre-registered to vote. North Carolina’s pre-registration rate exceeded the rates of many other states with similar laws.
New York’s Preregistration Law Goes Into Effect January 1. Counties are not paying attention, but students will.
The issue of low rates of voter registration among young people will be mitigated by allowing preregistration for 16- and 17-year-olds, who would then be automatically registered by the time they were 18. These voter reforms have enormous potential but, as always, implementation will be crucial to determining their effect.
California’s Preregistration Rate Is Up, But We Still Have A Long Way To Go
A recent report issued by the California Secretary of State shows a significant statewide increase in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds preregistered to vote. Between October 22, 2018 and October 1, 2019, most of California’s 20 largest counties experienced increases in preregistration rates.
Will the Class of 2020 Vote Next November? California’s Governor Just Vetoed Legislation That Would Have Made it More Likely.
Almost every member of the Class of 2020 in California high schools will be old enough to vote next November. But will they be registered? Governor Gavin Newsom just vetoed AB 773, which would have required public high schools to give students the opportunity to register or pre-register to vote and to teach students about the voting process.
4,000 Youth Registrations during High School Voter Registration Week
The first-ever nationwide High School Voter Registration Week was a big success! The week of action improved low youth voter registration rates by encouraging and supporting students to register and pre-register eligible 16, 17, and 18 year-olds to vote.
A Letter to High School Climate Strikers
What you are planning is remarkable. I’m a lawyer, parent, and former law clerk to Justice Ginsburg (yes, the Notorious RBG). As I asked myself what I might do to support you, I tried to imagine what might be on your mind.
35% of Maryland Teens are Pre-registered to Vote
As of 2018, Maryland became the 18th state to adopt Election Day Registration, allowing eligible citizens to register to vote and cast their ballots at the same time during the early voting period through election day. Despite the state’s efforts to engage its citizens in the electoral process, more than half of the counties in Maryland have a pre-registration rate lower than 40%.
In D.C., the Doors are Open
According to The Civics Center’s new analysis, as of August 2019, only 19% of 16- and 17-year-olds in D.C. are pre-registered to vote. Despite D.C.’s success in passing reforms aimed at removing obstacles to voter participation, there is still room for improvement, especially in fully engaging youth in the electoral process. An estimated 4% of D.C.’s 16 year-olds are pre-registered to vote, while there is a significant increase of pre-registered 17 year-olds at 35%.
Introducing High School Voter Registration Week
Too often in the past, people have dismissed concerns about low levels of youth involvement as being based on the stereotype that young people are apathetic and self-centered. That’s not what we see at The Civics Center.
Less than 1% of Maine 17-year-olds are Pre-registered to Vote
Youth ages 18-29 make up only 15% of the Maine population. In the 2018 election, voter turnout amongst 18-29 year-olds in the state was 36.4%, slightly above the 31% national average. Despite the expansion in legislation and youth turnout, every county in Maine has a pre-registration rate lower than 3%.
Massachusetts Pre-registration Rate Rises to 25%
In 2018, the pre-registration rate in Massachusetts reached 25%, as more than 42,378 eligible 16- and 17-year-olds pre-registered to vote in the state. Between 2016 and 2018, Massachusetts pre-registered more than 62,183 young people.
Only 19% of Rhode Island Teens Are Pre-registered to Vote
A new analysis released by The Civics Center reveals that 19% of 16- and 17-year-olds are pre-registered to vote in Rhode Island. Providence County, with the largest population in the State, has the lowest preregistration rate -- just 12%. On the flip side, Bristol County, with the lowest population has the highest preregistration rate at 26%
New Study Reveals 14% of Utah 16- and 17-year-olds Are Pre-registered to Vote
The 2018 primary elections made Utah history as they were the first to allow pre-registered 17-year-olds to cast a ballot in the state. Despite the promise of this new law, more than two-thirds of the counties in Utah had fewer than 20% of 16- and 17-year-olds pre-registered.