Democracy's Future

Proposals to Expand Access to Registration and Voting for a New Generation

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project have released “Democracy’s Future: Proposals to Expand Access to Registration and Voting for a New Generation”. The new report is an update to the organization’s 2019 release. This resource identifies key barriers to youth registration and voting and opportunities to expand access. It provides best practices, useful background information, and concrete solutions including model legislation and policies to expand access to this new generation of voters. Its components span the civic engagement spectrum from voter registration and voter education to the ability to cast a valid ballot.

Key policy areas include:

01. Preregistration of 16- and 17-Year-Olds

Expanding voter registration to include preregistration for young voters prepares them for voting when they turn 18, automatically registers them as voters, gets them on the list to receive information from election officials, and makes updates more efficient.

02. On-Campus Voter Registration and Voter Information Opportunities

States can expand voter registration and voter information available to students through a variety of reforms connected to their institutions that make student registration easier and more efficient.

03. Residency Rules Affecting Students

Residency rules can—but should not–interfere with students’ rights to register and vote where they live, including on campus.

04. Same Day Voter Registration

Allowing voters to register up to and including on Election Day is particularly important for citizens new to the process, including students.

05. Student ID as Voter ID

States with voter ID laws should always include student IDs in the acceptable forms of identification.

06. On-Campus Polling Places

Campus polling places during early voting and on Election Day offer students the same opportunity to vote in their community as other voters.

07. Pre-Election Day Voting Opportunities

As a highly mobile population that is juggling family, work, and learning students benefit from robust opportunities to vote before Election Day, including early in-person voting and voting by mail.

08. Students as Poll Workers

Student poll workers are a win-win for election officials. They are a pool of tech-savvy and bilingual community members, and students can deepen their civic engagement connections and service.