10 reasons that you should run a voter registration drive NOW
Yes YOU, Gen Z high school students!
It’s back to school season, which means that students are dusting off their backpacks, teachers are setting up their whiteboards, and CEBV is starting another semester of high school voter registration.
October 7 is the deadline for registering new voters to make a decisive impact in this year’s huge election! We started our partnership with The Civics Center because today, only 25% of the state’s 18-year-olds are registered, versus 81% of Arizonans aged 45+ (The Civics Center, 2024). Imagine the change Gen-Z could bring if we voted at the same rate as Boomers!
Focusing on that number, here are ten reasons any high school student, teacher, or administrator should join our high school voter registration challenge this fall:
Anyone can pitch in. At CEBV-Youth, we know that you do not need to be of voting age to take civic action! We train and support students of all ages to run successful drives at their schools. Not a student, but still want to help? We also train teachers and administrators to help their student teams! Students and educators can sign up for a training HERE.
Students at Canyon del Oro High School 18 year olds in rural counties are extremely underrepresented. Despite being the same age, listening to the same music, and playing the same sports, Arizona youth are registered to vote at completely different rates depending on their county. As of this April, 40.7% of Coconino County 18 year olds were registered to vote but only 25.1% are registered to vote in Maricopa, 19.3% in Apache, and 15.6% in Greenlee. Where you live should not determine your access to the ballot box. This is why our program is statewide and our trainings are entirely virtual, making it an easy process for students across the state.
Gen Z voters (born 1997-2012) form a big chunk of our electorate. At current registration rates, voters ages 20-30 years old make up 19% of Arizona’s electorate, and 18% of the national electorate This means that Gen Z is currently 1/5th of the voting population–a chunk that will only keep growing and growing. If Gen Z were registered to vote at the same rate as Boomers, the nation’s trajectory could change overnight.
Running a drive is a fun, easy process. As someone who ran a few voter registration drives of my own, I can tell you that you get all the support that you need. CEBV-Youth will train you, and The Civics Center will provide you with physical resources like posters, stickers, and even candy!
Students gain valuable experience–maybe even school credit– from running drives. Setting up a drive for your school isn’t just helpful for your community–it’s helpful for you! Students can reach out to CEBV for letters of recommendation, certificates, and more. That’s all not to mention that participating in the challenge develops your leadership and advocacy skills–two qualities that colleges and employers love to see on applications.
Arizona’s youth vote will decide election results this November. In the past few elections, the youth vote has played a huge part in determining which candidates win elections up and down the ballot. In 2022, Governor Hobbs won her race with just 0.7% of the vote, and she received support from 71% of voters ages 18-29. Similarly, 76% of these voters voted for Senator Kelly, who beat his opponent by less than 5%. In a state where elections are decided by razor-thin margins, every vote counts!
“We can let [young people] know that, sure, voting doesn’t solve everything. It isn’t the only path, or even a 100% certain path, to a shared future in which we all can thrive. It will always involve compromise and oversimplification: this person is better than that; these ballot measures should be approved or not. It isn’t nirvana or a river or a song….
But it’s power. It’s their power, and they should use it.” –Laura Brill, The Civics Center
Students listen to their peers and teachers much more than they listen to strangers. Any and all voter registration is incredible, but you, as a member of your school’s community, are most likely to successfully register people you know. You know your community better than anyone else–and your community knows you!
Students in Safford receive their Democracy in a Box! Arizona’s youth are widely unregistered. As we mentioned before, only around 25% of eligible high school students are registered to vote. You can improve that number!
Running a drive gives you an even stronger connection to your community. I knew many of my peers before I ran my voter registration drive, but after my drive, I knew almost every high school student’s name. I bonded with my classmates by helping them through the registration (and now, voting!) process, forming lifelong connections.
You are exactly who we’re looking for. Student, educator, or administrator, you have the power to send high school students into the world with the tools they need to change it. You’re not directly affiliated with a high school? Send this article to someone who is!
So, what are you waiting for? Spread the word and sign up to run a voter registration drive HERE!