Laura W. Brill 1/20/20 Laura W. Brill 1/20/20

This is not a mock election

Today, as we recognize the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., our general election on November 3, 2020 is less than 300 days away. A friend asked recently whether young people will turn out to vote. My answer has become routine: the most common reason young people give for not voting is that they are not registered.

Laura W. Brill 1/2/20 Laura W. Brill 1/2/20

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.

Laura W. Brill 12/24/19 Laura W. Brill 12/24/19

One lawyer's quest to teach America's high schoolers about the democratic process (Daily Journal)

Director of The Civics Center Laura W. Brill addresses the need for improvements to high school voter registration and civic engagement efforts in the December 24, 2019, Daily Journal.

Brianna Velasco and Alejandra Gonzalez 12/9/19 Brianna Velasco and Alejandra Gonzalez 12/9/19

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.

Laura W. Brill 12/9/19 Laura W. Brill 12/9/19

Pop Quiz: High School Voter Registration 101

It’s officially finals season. That means it’s time to take our first ever pop quiz to find out if you’ll be ready to help young people vote in 2020. If you don’t know the answers, don’t be surprised. One thing we’ve learned this year at The Civics Center is that the opportunities for high school voter registration are among the best kept secrets in the country.

Dori Newman 11/21/19 Dori Newman 11/21/19

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.

Laura W. Brill and Dylan Morrissey 11/13/19 Laura W. Brill and Dylan Morrissey 11/13/19

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.

Vicki C. Shapiro 11/7/19 Vicki C. Shapiro 11/7/19

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.

Dylan Morrissey 10/29/19 Dylan Morrissey 10/29/19

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.

Laura W. Brill 9/9/19 Laura W. Brill 9/9/19

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.

Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 9/4/19 Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 9/4/19

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%.

Alejandra Gonzalez, Brown University '20 8/28/19 Alejandra Gonzalez, Brown University '20 8/28/19

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%.

The Civics Center 8/21/19 The Civics Center 8/21/19

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.

Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/21/19 Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/21/19

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%.

Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/14/19 Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/14/19

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.

Jeri Fromme, University of California, Los Angeles '22 8/13/19 Jeri Fromme, University of California, Los Angeles '22 8/13/19

First Person: A Line Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

I understand from growing up in Orange County that the earlier students get introduced to the democratic voting process, the more likely they are to fight their stereotypical OC apathy in the “OC Bubble” and actively participate in our electoral process.

Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/7/19 Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 8/7/19

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%

Alejandra Gonzalez, Brown University '20 7/31/19 Alejandra Gonzalez, Brown University '20 7/31/19

Delaware’s Pre-registration Rates Lag Behind Many States

Despite Delaware’s high voter registration rate and efforts to continuously increase the accessibility of voting, this progress is yet to be reflected in the numbers concerning youth pre-registration.

Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 7/24/19 Brianna Velasco, University of California, Los Angeles '20 7/24/19

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.

David Ward 7/17/19 David Ward 7/17/19

Student Leaders: Recruit High School Voters Yourselves

A bill that could have added lots of high school voters to the rolls in Maryland before the next presidential election died in committee last spring. If passed, it would have gone into effect on October 1, 2020, just a month or so before the presidential election.