As America’s youth head back to school and the country prepares for the midterm elections, civic education is of particular importance. Young people have increasingly turned out to vote in recent elections, though they–and particularly young people of color–remain underrepresented in the general electorate. At Project Vote, we support measures to instill civic duty while providing access to democracy to all citizens, and we think it needs to start early in life.
This month, Project Vote is releasing two reports on improving youth voter participation, particularly among non-college attending youth. Best Practices for Implementing Effective High School Voter Registration Programs is the result of a recent survey of election officials and school administrators across the nation. This fall, a more expansive report will further delve into the best practices of state-run high school voter registration programs in several states.
Enfranchising American Youth is a new policy paper that discusses the disparities in the youth electorate itself-which disproportionately comprises of white and college-educated citizens-and the types of policies that can help reach a broader range of American youth.
Both these papers, and other resources on Youth Voting, can be found here.