Research suggests that policies like online, automatic, and pre-registration can increase youth voter participation, especially where there is effective and equitable implementation.
A close look at the reasons why some youth didn’t register, or registered but didn’t vote, suggests needed improvements in electoral administration and outreach.
Campaigns are leaving millions of votes on the table by not engaging young people, who often face challenges to electoral participation.
According to our survey, more than half of young people could not correctly identify whether someone with a felony conviction can vote in their state, and almost half believe those with misdemeanors can't vote, which is not true anywhere.
Our analysis of which youth voted by mail in 2012 and 2016, how they did it, and why, can offer insights to those looking to expand the practice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is historically less outreach and engagement in midterm cycles than in presidential election years, which may lead to lower youth participation.
Explore our comprehensive analyses of youth voter registration, including how young people register, why some don't, and why some registered youth don't vote.
Youth of color and those without college experience can face more—and different—barriers to voting.
Our new study conducted with Opportunity Youth United highlights opportunities to make voting more accessible for low-income youth.