Voter Registration for High School Students
DID YOU KNOW???
Young people (18-29) make up 21% of the voting population in U.S. elections, yet only 50% of eligible voters in this age group voted in the 2016 general election.
(from https://www.stuvoice.org/voting)
Other Facts About Youth and Voting
· From 1972 to 2016, the proportion of youth ages 18 to 24 who reported voting in presidential elections decreased from 50 to 39 percent.
· The percentage of youth who reported voting in 2014, a nonpresidential election year, was 16 percent—markedly lower than in the 2016 presidential election (39 percent). This pattern has been consistent since 1972.
· In 2016, young women reported registering to vote and voting (53 and 42 percent, respectively) at higher rates than their male peers (49 and 37 percent, respectively).
· Among the racial/ethnic groups for which we have data, Asian and Hispanic youth are the least likely to report both registering to vote and voting, regardless of their citizenship.
Do you teach students who will be 18 years of age before Election Day on November 3rd?
You can encourage students to become civically activated and engaged by helping them to register to vote!
Deadlines
· October 16 - Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
· October 26 - Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
· November 3 - Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
· November 3- General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
There are 4 ways students can register to vote in Washington State!
- Online - you'll need a Washington State Driver License or ID
- Print - in English and other languages
- By mail - request a form (up to 1,000 for a voter registration drive)
- In person - find your county elections department
Voter Eligibility:
Washington State encourages every eligible person to register to vote and participate fully in all elections. Each of us is responsible for protecting the integrity of the electoral process by providing equal access, and guarding against fraud and discrimination.
To register to vote, you must be:
· A citizen of the United States;
· A legal resident of Washington State;
· At least 18 years old by Election Day;
· Not disqualified from voting due to a court order; and
· Not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
Please check voter eligibility for more information about citizenship, residency requirements, felons, and voting r5ights, and mental competency and voting rights)
Registering Students
Want to register your high school students to vote? Think about having The Washington Bus come to your high school and do that for you! They are a non-profit based in Seattle and are happy to meet with your students and get them registered to vote. Their website states that “The Washington Bus is a statewide movement-building organization that increases political access and participation for young people across Washington State and develops the next generation of young leaders”. Shout out to LWHS who has had them register their students for the past several years. Two years ago, LWHS registered the highest number of students in the State. Check out their website: http://www.washingtonbus.org/