State Requirements for High School Voter Registration

Our guide omits the following: (1) laws that are permissive, as opposed to laws that are phrased as affirmative requirements; (2) a comprehensive list of administrative regulations (we’ve included a few, however, that seemed especially significant); (3) social studies frameworks and standards and curricular materials and programs; (4) local or school district level laws and policies; (5) implementation and budget information regarding how states are doing at meeting or funding these requirements; (6) provisions about topics other than high school voter registration such as poll worker programs, voting in primaries and special elections at age 17 for those who will be 18 by the general election, and efforts to lower the voting age generally; (7) contests, challenges, and guidance materials, other than express statutory requirements to create them.

We also have not undertaken to draft a model law of high school voter registration. To be successful, such an effort would require convening state partners and a range of experts, so that such a model law would have maximum support and generate maximum impact. The list below, is a starting point, however, for illustrating some of the most important elements. We believe these include robust and detailed assignments of responsibilities, a focus on student leadership, methods for monitoring and tracking, specificity as to planning and timing, and overall integration into the civic mission of the school.

In all cases, our guidance is intended for background only, and is not legal advice. If you have questions about how these laws apply in particular circumstances, we encourage you to contact your state or local election officials or education agencies, or to seek the advice of an attorney.

If you believe the information below is helpful, please help us expand and cover some of these omitted areas.