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.
What RBG was telling us: Grab a teaspoon
A note from Laura W. Brill, Director of The Civics Center, to future voters on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Civics Center congratulates Laura Brill on receiving the Judith Soley Lawyer as Citizen Award
The Civics Center Director Laura W. Brill was honored with the 2020 Judith Soley Lawyer as Citizen Award from the California Women Lawyers (CWL). The Judith Soley Lawyer as Citizen Award is given to one attorney each year who has “made a significant contribution to their community...beyond the practice of law” and “devotes time and effort to the public good and values through the tradition of public service and involvement.”
New Voter Registrations Have Plummeted Due to COVID-19
Voter registration rates in April and May of 2020 have plummeted in relation to the rates in the same months in 2016. Declines in voter registration rates have been as significant as 75% in some states.
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.
Colorado Shows Sharp Decline in New Voter Registrations
The number of new voter registrations in Colorado has significantly decreased from the spring of 2016 to the spring of 2020, according to newly released data obtained by The Civics Center from the Colorado Secretary of State.
“Let’s Get To Work” To Support Youth Voting
Last week Barack Obama challenged young Americans to “get to work.” He asked youth activists to create momentum, to effect real change, to sustain that change. He asked them to raise awareness, which thousands of young people are already doing through peaceful protest. And he asked young people to vote.
It’s going to be a long summer: Great books for high school activists
For everyone who wants to make a difference and who wants to learn more, we’re suggesting a handful of books we love. Stay tuned for a future post on podcasts and documentaries we love. With each suggestion, we’ve tried to find a voice that is unique and authentic and that feels like a new friend. This is not homework.
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.
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.
Meet The Civics Center’s inaugural class of Youth Fellows!
The Civics Center is excited to announce its inaugural class of Youth Fellows! This cohort of eleven high school students will be taking on projects aimed at improving youth civic engagement and voter participation through 2020.
Governor Sununu: Don’t Make New Hampshire Choose Between Health and Voting
New Hampshire is the only state in the United States that requires its citizens to register to vote and update existing registrations in person.
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.
Let’s get high schoolers voting (New York Daily News)
Read Director Laura W. Brill’s response to the New York Daily News’s March 3 op-ed “A Wish for Super Tuesday” regarding youth voter registration and turnout.
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.
Don’t Blame Gen-Z. It’s the Registration Gap.
A false narrative circulating for years proclaims that young people don’t vote. As a result, campaigns limit their outreach to young voters, young voters feel less connected to the national debate, and government is less responsive to issues that disproportionately affect young voters. Even organizations focused on increasing voter participation mobilize fewer resources to get out the vote campaigns targeting young voters.
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.
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.