Calling Ohio: 100,000 18-year-olds remain unregistered to vote

They have until Oct. 10 to get registered for the Nov. 7 election.

Oct 05, 2023

Ohioans are set to go to the polls on November 7, 2023 to vote on two important ballot issues: whether to protect abortion rights in the state constitution and whether to legalize recreational marijuana.

But as of just a few weeks ago, more than 100,000 18-year-olds were not yet registered to vote. They will be disenfranchised and barred from voting in that election unless they register between now and October 10, the cutoff date for voter registration.

The Civics Center’s Future Voter Scorecards provide a county-by-county breakdown. The top 10 most populous counties are below, and for a full state view click here.

Here’s what you need to know about the numbers.

As of August 26, 2023, just 36,000 of the state’s more than 150,000 18-year-olds had registered to vote, a statewide voter registration rate of just 23.4%.
In the most populous county, Franklin County, , where Columbus is located, only 22.5% of 18-year-olds are registered.
In the second most populous county, Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, 26.5% of 18-year-olds are registered.
In the third most populous county, Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is located and where many cities will be having important local elections, 24.5% of 18-year-olds are registered.
Those figures are well below the roughly 30% of 18-year-olds who were registered nationwide nationwide at the time of the 2022 midterm election, (according to US Census data).

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can help Ohio youth turnout by sending this post to everyone you know in Ohio, and ask them to let others know about these numbers and that they can make a difference. If you’re already in Ohio, tell your friends and family. Tell high school educators and officials.

Those with a driver’s license or state ID can register online here. If you live in Ohio and don’t have a state ID, you can still register by printing out this form and mailing it in. Note that you’ll need an ID to vote, so check out this recent post from VoteRiders, and get your ID as well, today.

Ohio youth, your officials need to hear from you! Make our democracy stronger by registering today.

The Civics Center gratefully acknowledges the research assistance of Tony Shen, who contributed to this report.

Abbi Lichtenstein

Oct 6, 2023Liked by Laura W. Brill

I will post your letter on SM. Are you also planning to have registration drives at various Ohio high schools?

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1 reply by Laura W. Brill

Cathy Murphree

Oct 6, 2023

Re contacting Ohio schools...I have no contacts but have looked up high schools in the first five districts listed. I'm short on time this morning but will try to add the last five later. Here is a sample email plus email addresses for this principals. I've emailed the ones I've printed below--it takes minutes!

Dear Mr. Cates,

I’m a retired educator, and in my retirement I am volunteering as a voter registrar, and in particular trying to increase registration among previously underrepresented eligible voters, including youth voters.

Please see the article below and share with your students. Registration for the upcoming election is October 10. I will paste the nuts and bolt paragraph below.

With best regards,

Entire article:

https://open.substack.com/pub/thecivicscenter/p/calling-ohio-100000-18-year-olds?r=8vyqy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Schools:

1. Lorain High School

Melissa Cheers, Principal, mcheers@loraincsd.org <mcheers@loraincsd.org>;

2. Cuyahoga Falls High School

Jason Smith, Principal, cf_smithja@cftigers.org

3. Warren G. Harding High School, Dr. Janis Ulicny, Principal could not find email address

4. Butler Schools – Arcanum High School Ty Cates, Principal ty_cates@arcanum-butler.k12.oh.us

5. Hamilton Schools, Hamilton High School Main Campus, Jonathan Szary, Principal

jszary@hcsdoh.org