California and New York allow for preregistration at 16. Data show neither state is fulfilling the promise of these laws.

A shocking 1.25 million eligible teens – more than 80% in CA & NY – have not yet preregistered to vote.

I live in California, and I grew up in New York. That’s why it pains me to report that neither state is effectively implementing high school voter registration.

In California only 12.7% of 16 and 17-year-olds are preregistered to vote. In New York State, only 18.3% of 16- and 17-year-olds are preregistered.

If you think motor voter laws are getting the job done for the youngest voters, think again.

More than 750,000 young people turn 18 every year in New York and California combined, and 1,500,000 are old enough to preregister. About 1,250,000 students who could be preregistered to vote, in these two states alone, haven’t preregistered yet.

In the most populous counties in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange) the rates range from 10.9% to 14.3%. The most populous counties in New York (New York, Kings, and Queens) have rates below 5%. 

The rates are so dismal as to suggest virtually no concerted effort to implement high school voter registration in the states’ most populous regions, despite legal requirements in both states to do so. 

Unlike other problems facing our democracy: gerrymandering, election interference and denial, the electoral college, the cost of campaigns and influence of money in politics, high school voter registration is something we can all do a lot to fix right now.

For a deeper look at high school voter registration in CA & NY, see Future Voters and Gaps in our Democracy and Research Report: Spotlight on New York.

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Here’s what should be happening so the newest voters in CA & NY are engaged and ready to use their voices at the ballot box the moment they turn 18:

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Kathy Hochul

Issue executive orders directing your administrations to fully implement preregistration through nonpartisan high school programs. Challenge one another to lift your state’s registration rates for its youngest voters by at least 25 percentage points by November. Put funding for HSVR training and programming in your budget. 

School district leaders

NYC Schools Chancellor, David C. Banks and LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho: Make a decision to implement HSVR in every high school in your districts today. Then challenge the other to do the same. 

You don’t have to limit your challenge to NYC and LA. Ask Pedro Martinez in Chicago, F. Mike Miles in Houston and Stephanie Elizalde in Dallas. Ask Jose L. Totres in Miami-Dade, Jesus F. Jara in Clark County, NV, and Tony B. Watlington, Sr. in Philly. In every one of these states, the vast majority of high school seniors are old enough to register today or will be by the time they graduate. Make it a priority that every student will understand why voting matters and how to register. Every one of you can make a commitment today that your district will lift the registration rates for the youngest voters by at least 25 percentage points by November. 

Other elected and appointed officials

Make high school voter registration your cause. Encourage it on a nonpartisan basis in your newsletters and mailings to constituents. Add registration information to your website. Speak about it in public appearances, especially in visits to high schools.  

Students 

Register to vote and learn how to run a voter registration drive in your schools. The training takes about an hour, and the impact lasts a lifetime. After you’re trained, challenge a friend in a nearby school. 

Educators and School Administrators

Learn how to support nonpartisan student-led voter registration drives in your high school. Learn how to help communicate with students about why their votes matter. You can come to the same free training. 

Parents and other family members

Help the teens in your life register. Remind them. Print out a form and put it on the breakfast table. Help them understand how public issues impact their lives and why voting matters. Forward this post to a friend so they will do the same. 

Not in any of these categories?

Pass this post along to someone who is. You can make a difference when you let friends know how they can make a difference.