A handful of states have made voter registration easier, but others have implemented new voter ID requirements or rolled back vote by mail.
Many of the states with high youth voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections had strong policies that make it easier to register and vote.
Data from our post-election survey suggests that youth in states with facilitative electoral laws may have faced fewer barriers to vote.
Some states have made registering to vote and casting a ballot easier in recent years, while others have implemented new restrictive policies
In more than half of states where data is available, there are more youth ages 18-24 registered to vote than in 2018. But the numbers among teens ages 18-19 are less positive.
In recent elections, young people's participation in this perennially competitive state has been strong, and could be decisive in 2022 if youth are supported.
The Wisconsin governor's race is #1 in our Youth Electoral Significance Index ranking of elections where youth can have a decisive impact.
Young people of color are critical in this electoral battleground, but new voting laws pose challenges to equitable participation.
Young voters in Arizona can have a big impact in the 2022 midterms, but barriers to voting create challenges that campaigns and organizations must address.
Research suggests that policies like online, automatic, and pre-registration can increase youth voter participation, especially where there is effective and equitable implementation.