Statement to high school and college students on the Supreme Court’s draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade
Congress and state legislatures can protect abortion rights and encourage health care institutions to provide it. Every member of the House of Representatives, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and thousands of state legislative seats will be up for election in November. Young people are not set up today to have an equal voice in these elections today because so few are registered.
The Civics Center encourages Congress to pass the Freedom To Vote Act
Executive Director Laura W. Brill celebrates the introduction of historic voting rights legislation, reflects on the inclusion of youth voting rights provisions, and calls for immediate passage.
On the 50th anniversary of the 26th Amendment, the need to protect voting rights is clear
Young people are as crucial to our democracy today as they were in 1971 when the 26th Amendment was enacted. It is time for our country to live up to its promise.
The heroes of our democracy deserve more
You were the heroes of our democracy in 2020, and you deserve more than what this year has given you. You deserve a reliable and transparent democracy that welcomes you.
4 in 5 college students in states likely to have close elections report having been asked to make a plan to vote
With the election less than two weeks away, get-out-the-vote groups emphasize making a voting plan as a way to help voters think through the mechanics of making sure they will have a chance to vote.
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.
Introducing the 1,000 Schools Challenge and Ready to Vote Coalition
I’m thrilled to introduce The Civics Center’s 1,000 Schools Challenge, undertaken with the newly formed Ready to Vote Coalition. The goal of the Challenge is to support youth-led voter registration efforts in 1,000 schools around the country. The Ready to Vote Coalition includes national, state and local groups, listed below, who recognize and value the goal of improving civic engagement in high school.
Under 18 in Arizona?
Some states don’t have a formal system of pre-registration, but young people can register to vote if they will be 18 by the next general election.
Nevada: on the way
Nevada is a bit behind California when it comes to encouraging high school students to register or pre-register to vote, but it’s still better than a lot of states.
Hello, Texas
Texas has a history of voter suppression.
That seems to be extending to high schools.
California - good laws; now we need results
California law tries to encourage high school students to register or pre-register to vote. The State allows pre-registration at 16 and has online voter registration and automatic registration at the DMV.
Why clubs?
I am a lawyer, and one of my favorite cases involved a high school club. Anthony Colin was a 10th grader at El Modena High School in Orange County, California.