CIRCLE’s Youth Electoral Significance Index rankings highlight that young voters can decide congressional elections all across the country.

Research suggests that policies like online, automatic, and pre-registration can increase youth voter participation, especially where there is effective and equitable implementation.

CIRCLE’s updated, exclusive data-based rankings of the races where youth can influence results seek to expand conversations about young people’s role in elections.

CIRCLE co-led qualitative and quantitative studies that found a complex relationship between social movements and electoral engagement.

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.

The runoff elections for both Georgia seats will determine control of the Senate, and mobilizing Black youth in the state may be a decisive factor.

However, in 16 states, registration among youth ages 18-19 is lower than in 2016, suggesting the pandemic may have hindered efforts to reach the youngest eligible voters

In many states, the number of young people (ages 18-24) registered to vote is already higher than in November 2016, but among youth ages 18-19 more states are still far behind.

In 20 states across the country, more young people are registered to vote now, months before the 2020 election, than were registered in November 2016

A CIRCLE survey of young people shows that youth engagement is higher than in 2016 and 2018, but access to information about registration and voting in an election during the pandemic may be an issue.