Registration rates for 18-year-olds are up in almost every state compared to 2022, some by more than 30 points. Here’s why that matters for youth turnout this November and beyond.

Almost 800,000 18-year-olds who aren’t registered can still vote on November 3 in states with same day voter registration. Most campaigns never reach them, because they only target the voter file.

More Pennsylvania 18-year-olds are registered to vote than at this point in 2022, offering reason to predict higher turnout in the 2026 midterms. See the statewide and local gains, and how you can help before the October 19 registration deadline.

Only 35% of Ohio’s 18-year-olds are registered to vote, trailing the national rate by 10 percentage points. With the registration deadline here, nearly 100,000 young people could miss their chance to make their voices heard. There’s no time to waste.

The Youth Voting Rights Act would make voter preregistration available nationwide from age 16 and reduce barriers for young voters. Laura W. Brill explains how the bill would help fulfill the promise of the 26th Amendment and why Congress should pass it.

The 26th Amendment gave young people the right to vote at 18, but its promise remains unfinished. On Constitution Day, Laura W. Brill outlines how young people can register, hold schools accountable, and advocate for better preregistration laws.

High school is an untapped source of civic power. The Civics Center, New Voters, and Rhizome call on funders to invest in student leadership, voter registration, and community organizing.

Teens are craving community, meaning, and agency. Student-led voter registration drives give them opportunities to connect in person, build trust, and shape their role in democracy.

New data from The Civics Center shows that voter registration among 18-year-olds is rising ahead of the 2026 midterms, but major state disparities remain and 2.5 million young people are still unregistered.

The Civics Center has launched new resources to help educators teach voter registration and democracy ahead of the 2026 midterms and future elections.

Illinois has enacted the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. Youth Voter Empowerment Act, requiring high schools to provide students with an opportunity to register to vote. The new law builds on preregistration at age 16 and comes as registration among Illinois 18-year-olds continues to rise.

Minnesota has increased voter registration among 18-year-olds by 58 percentage points since 2022. Youth Voter Outreach Specialist Michael Wall explains the laws, partnerships, and outreach strategies behind that progress.

New data shows that 18-year-old voter registration is significantly higher ahead of the 2026 midterms than it was in 2022, with some states making dramatic gains and more progress possible before November.

Elders and students in Truckee are working across generations to register young voters and make civic engagement a lasting part of high school life.

New Hampshire has the lowest 18-year-old voter registration rate among the states tracked by The Civics Center. Restrictive registration requirements are making it harder for young people to exercise their right to vote.

Democracy Fellow India Krug shares how the Allegheny County Youth Vote Coalition is helping Pittsburgh teens register voters, meet elected officials, and lead civic change.

Nearly 300,000 eligible 18-year-olds are missing from California’s voter rolls. Here’s what the data shows and how communities can help before November.

Fewer than half of 18-year-olds are registered to vote in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. The Big State Challenge examines the registration gap, changes since 2022 and how communities can help young voters get ready for the ballot box.

As the 26th Amendment turns 55, Laura W. Brill reflects on its promise, its connection to the Declaration of Independence, and the work still needed to help young Americans exercise their right to vote.

New data shows that 18-year-olds are dramatically under-registered, and that better state policies can help close the gap.