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.
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.
Bloomington in Action
Before their collaboration on a digital voter registration drive, Lucia Walker and Celina German never knew they lived in the same neighborhood, let alone the same town. Lucia, a rising senior at Bloomington High School South in Bloomington, Indiana, and Celina, a rising senior at Kenyon College and a BHSS alumna, are both interested in civic engagement.
What you can do
A note from a high school student asked what he could do to improve high school voter registration rates in his hometown. It got me thinking about creating a list of easy-to-use resources laying out what students can do on a personal level and in their schools to make a difference.
In Arizona’s most populous county, youth voter registration rates are on the rise, but progress is uneven among school districts, and there is still a long way to go.
Voter registration rates for 17- and 18-year-olds in Maricopa County, Arizona have increased by nearly 50% (from about 21,000 to about 31,000) between August 2019 and April 2020. With the general election just six months away, however, and the challenges of COVID-19, there is still a long way to go.
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.
California's latest preregistration numbers: On the rise, but still very low.
California’s voter preregistration numbers are out. They are on the rise, but we still have a long way to go. Read our commentary in Cal Matters, and check out our county-by-county breakdown, below.
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.
Pop Quiz Number 2: High School Voter Registration 101
I know most high schools don’t teach how and when to register to vote. That is no excuse. You still have to take the quiz. When you’re done, calculate your score using the answers below. If you didn’t get 100%, don’t blame yourself. Like I said, most schools don’t teach this stuff.
Our beautiful yellow map
There are many different kinds of maps. Some show the present, like where the roads and rivers are. Some show past events, like the red / blue maps of an election night, proclaiming the count of votes already cast. There are other maps that show the future. They tell us about opportunity instead of objects or outcomes.
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.