In recent years, six states have adopted measures to help ingrain the democratic process in the nation’s young people earlier in life. This legislative session, lawmakers in three states are hoping to follow suit.
Preregistration, or the opportunity to be registered to vote before reaching the legal voting age of 18, is a growing legislative trend that has proven to increase voter participation among young people in states like Florida and Hawaii. Bills are currently pending in Colorado, New Jersey, and Arizona. Colorado’s House Bill 1096 is scheduled to be heard in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee next Wednesday, February 9. Follow this bill by subscribing to our weekly eDigest here.
Social science research has shown that allowing voter registration at a young age engenders a heightened consciousness of the importance of civic engagement and promotes a lifelong enthusiasm for voting and community involvement. Last week, we released a toolkit of materials for youth voting advocates that includes model bills and sample testimony, as well as research, fact sheets, and other useful documents on the subject of Youth Registration, including preregistration and high school voter registration. You can download this toolkit here.