Attn: High School Seniors in NY-3!
9,000 18-year-olds have an opportunity to register and vote in the election to fill George Santos’s vacant seat.
Voter Preregistration Is Sweeping the Nation!
We love laws allowing for voter preregistration at age 16. The latest states to bring this wonderful opportunity to their residents are Illinois and Michigan.
Bring Young Voters Onto the Voter Rolls NOW
There is a persistent 25-40 percentage point gap in registration comparing 18 & 19 year olds to older Americans. The time to remedy that is now.
Calling Ohio: 100,000 18-year-olds remain unregistered to vote
Ohioans are set to go to the polls on November 7, 2023 to vote on two important ballot issues. But as of just a few weeks ago, more than 100,000 18-year-olds were not yet registered to vote.
I served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Three years after her passing, her teachings about democracy resonate even more.
Wisconsin’s Newest Voters: Democracy Optimism and How to Build On It
Efforts to register and turnout the youngest voters in Wisconsin had enormous impact in statewide elections in the 2022 midterms and the 2023 judicial election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
A Catalyst for the Youth Vote: High School Voter Registration Week
The Civics Center launched High School Voter Registration Week four years ago to encourage the youth vote. Here are the three reasons why we made this decision.
Smoothing the On-ramp to Democracy: Voter Registration as a Staple of American High Schools
It’s a new school year, which means I’m once again shouting for anyone who is listening: high school voter registration is the most underestimated, underfunded, and underutilized method we have for strengthening democracy in America today.
The Freedom to Vote Act: what it can and can’t do for Gen Z
The 2023 Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) is a landmark bill to strengthen our democracy. How can the FTVA help young voters? Here’s an overview.
Youth Voting: The secret weapon we can all use to strengthen our democracy (and why it remains unappreciated)
I was speaking with a knowledgeable group of professionals who care about democracy, and I brought up what has become my obsession: “high school voter registration.” And then it started: the four phases of denial.
Research report: SPOTLIGHT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE
This is the second of three reports released by Civics Center on the registration and turnout statistics of New Hampshire's youngest voters.
Way to go, New York! But wait, there’s more…
S1733A seeks better implementation of high school voter registration and preregistration efforts. If signed, all school districts will need policies in place that require schools to help students register and preregister to vote.
New York: Real Progress Is Underway In Welcoming Young Voters
The NY state legislature has passed two bills which, if signed by Governor Hochul, will make voting more accessible for youth.
What every high school student and educator should know about Shelby County
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder makes Shelby County a voting rights case that every high school student and educator should know.
It’s been 10 years since SCOTUS’s Shelby County decision undoing preclearance. So what’s preclearance?
Ten years after Shelby County v. Holder ended preclearance, states have passed dozens of voter suppression laws. Here’s what preclearance was, why it mattered, and how we can still protect the vote.
Four Things I Love About David Pepper’s New Book, Saving Democracy (And One I’d Add)
Recently, a friend gave me a copy of David Pepper’s new book, Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual for Every American, and it’s one I hope all teens, parents and educators will embrace as a mantra for daily living.
Hey Moms & Dads: Democracy Needs You
I don’t have a megaphone, but if I did, I’d use it to send a special message to Moms, Dads, and teens: It’s a top priority for young people to have an equal voice in our democracy so they can shape the solutions for the challenges they face.
Welcome, Minnesota!
Minnesota is the latest state to allow young people to preregister to vote beginning at age 16. The new law will go into effect on June 1, and it brings to 17 the number of states that allow preregistration at age 16.
Reflections on 2024 for the 8 million US high school students who will turn 18 by the next Presidential election.
Top 5 election take-aways for high school students who care about strengthening democracy.
With Midterms Just Weeks Away, New Hampshire Lags in Registering 18-year-olds to Vote
Just weeks before the midterms, only 13% of New Hampshire’s 18-year-olds are registered to vote. With same-day registration and strong local organizing, communities can still make a big impact.