Welcoming Young People to Democracy

The Civics Center is on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America

Did you catch this week’s episode with Olivia Julianna? If not, be sure to listen here. We are feeling incredibly inspired by young people like Olivia. And that’s exactly why we want to make sure that everyone over 18 years old is registered to vote.

Did you know that young people are registered at much lower rates than older Americans? 

The Civics Center, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that’s on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America, estimates that fewer than 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote. 

High school students need the support of educators to ensure they are registered to vote before they graduate. Only 6% of students are asked to register in high school and 40% of youth don’t attend college so they are missing out on college voter registration programs. 

High schools already have the infrastructure for voter registration drives and The Civics Center has found that empowering students to run voter registration drives in their schools helps them to build their leadership skills and use relational organizing skills to encourage their peers to become responsible members of society and their communities by registering to vote.

Founder and CEO of The Civics Center, Laura Brill, explains how the work they’re doing welcomes young people into our democracy.

All of us can play a role in making voter registration part of every high school in America. We can talk to the administration at our local high school about offering student-run voter registration drives. Not only with this help lift registration rates, but it will also support young people in becoming the agents of their own political empowerment.

It’s just the kind of thing that can change the fabric of voter registration and voter turnout for young people.