Uneven Compliance with High School Voter Registration Laws in Georgia and North Carolina

Strategic Insights -

Public high schools in Georgia and North Carolina are failing to effectively comply with state laws requiring voter registration opportunities for eligible students, leaving many young citizens disconnected from the democratic process. A new report by The Civics Center and Fair Elections Center highlights the discrepancy between the two states, with North Carolina performing better in terms of registration rates among 18-year-olds. The report emphasizes the importance of districts and schools working together to implement effective voter registration programs, particularly in the lead-up to midterm elections.

Key Takeaways:

  • In both Georgia and North Carolina, public high schools' compliance with state law is positively correlated to 18-year-olds' registration rates.
  • Factors such as multiple opportunities to register to vote during the school year, good communication with the student body about these opportunities, district leadership in registration opportunities, and district policies supporting high school registration efforts are key to increasing youth voter registration rates.
  • Registration rates among 18-year-olds in North Carolina, where select districts generally comply with the law, are on average higher than Georgia and those in select districts of any other state.
  • The report highlights the need for all school districts to comply with state laws and support students in registering to vote, particularly in the next election.
  • Roughly one million high school students nationwide will be old enough to vote in November.
  • Schools have an ideal opportunity to put civics into action through equitable, inclusive, and nonpartisan programs that provide young people with the resources they need to register to vote.

Statistics:

  • 18-year-olds in North Carolina have average registration rates higher than those in Georgia and select districts of any other state.
  • Registration rates among 18-year-olds are positively correlated to public high schools' compliance with state law in both Georgia and North Carolina.
  • The number of high school students old enough to vote nationwide is roughly one million.

Sources:

  • "Introducing Students to Our Democracy: Evaluating Compliance of Public High Schools in Georgia and North Carolina with State Laws Requiring Voter Registration Opportunities" by The Civics Center and Fair Elections Center.
  • https://www.fairelectionscenter.org/post/new-report-show-uneven-compliance-with-high-school-voter-registration-laws-in-ga-nc.