Voting starts with registration.
Teens have the power to close the gap.
Nationally, under 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote compared to 75% of voters 45+*
*Average during midterm cycles per US Census Bureau
The Civics Center is on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America.
Check your state’s
age requirements
You and your friends can pre-register to vote in High School!
Explore our interactive map to find your state’s pre-registration laws:
50% of U.S. teens: Preregistration starts at age 16 or earlier
20% more teens: States that allow at least one year to register before the first election but do not start at age 16
Remaining 30%: States with shorter preregistration periods; most have time to register in senior year
You and your friends can pre-register to vote in High School!
Explore our interactive map to state-by-state voting requirements:
50% of U.S. teens: Preregistration starts at age 16 or earlier
20% more teens: States that allow at least one year to register before the first election but do not start at age 16
Remaining 30%: States with shorter preregistration periods; most have time to register in senior year
➥ HIGH SCHOOLERS
What issues do you
care about?
Whether it is climate change, gun safety, bodily autonomy, or ensuring that all students have access to great and inclusive schools, your voices matter to our country’s democracy.
Did you know that high school students can preregister to vote before they turn 18? Secure your future vote today and do your part to strengthen our democracy.
➥ EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS
We estimate under 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote.
Half of US teens can preregister at age 16. Another 20% can do so starting around 17. Of the remaining 30%, most have time to register during their senior year. High school is the time and place to get it done! Educators have an important role to play in welcoming young people into our democracy, and instilling a lifelong interest in voting and good citizenship.
Here’s what we do:
SUPPORT STUDENT-LED VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES
Encourage students and educators to hold twice-yearly voter registration drives in their schools by providing free training, materials and data
REACH OUT TO EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Encourage structural change by suggesting teachers, principals, and superintendents include voter registration in their programs on a permanent basis
WORK WITH PARTNERS
Collaborate with local youth and voting organizations to ensure that every community’s young people are engaged and ready to vote as soon as they become eligible
COLLECT DATA
Research and publish hyper-local data on registration rates among 16- to 18-year-olds so young people and schools know where engagement is lacking and can work to improve it.
RAISE AWARENESS
Everyone knows the voting age is 18, but few realize the opportunity that preregistration presents. We’re working to make voter registration synonymous with high school.
