Why voter registration matters and how to get started

Being 18 is definitely a milestone kind of year, focused on life after high school and potential college and career paths. While contemplating these decisions (and making time to watch MrBeast videos) can feel overwhelming, you might overlook a consequential detail: voter registration.

Those three words seemingly introduce a new task that could compete for your time. You’re probably asking, “Why does voting matter?” and “How and when do I even register to vote?”

The general election is November 5. So you have plenty of time to prepare. Try to think about voting the same way you’d approach creating a playlist. But instead of top tunes, you’re selecting the top policy issues that matter most to you—perhaps climate change, gun safety, or the cost of living and inflation. 

Broadly speaking, the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, expanded the right to vote to Americans 18 and over. So, you can make the most noise when you cast a ballot, adding your beat to the collective rhythm of other voters weighing laws and policies intended to better reflect the needs of Americans. 

Youth Participation is Critical

A lot of people think Gen Zers ages 18 to 27 are worth listening to, according to research from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. Since the 2022 midterms, eight million more Gen Zers have become eligible to vote. That means you, your friends, and millions more have the potential to help rock the political landscape, streaming a wide-ranging set of issues affecting your daily lives and core values.

While high youth turnout has been recorded at the polls in recent years, “challenges in young people’s lives, the ongoing problems of a struggling democracy, and some attempts to make it harder for young people to vote could combine to roll back the gains of the previous years,” cautioned CIRCLE researchers in a “Youth and the 2024 Election” report. So voter registration among youths is critical in the 2024 election and beyond.

Whether you feel indifferent and confused about the prospect of voter registration, or eager and empowered, we’ve summed up the necessary details and steps to start the process.

Keep in mind that no two voter registrations are alike. The process, deadlines, and procedures vary by state.

• Connect with the election office in your home state for the appropriate voter registration forms and registration deadline information. The registration form will ask for personal information, including name, address, and any other details.
• Submit the completed form online, by mail, or in person before the state’s deadline to ensure you participate in this fall’s election. Some states set their deadlines at the 30-day mark before the election, while others are more flexible leading up to election day. Check your state.
• Not quite 18? In some states, like California, Florida, and Minnesota, you can pre-register ahead of your 18^th birthday. Election offices can also answer questions about mail-in or absentee ballots for students leaving to attend college in the fall.

Once you’ve registered, you may wonder how your ballot will look. That’s when the feel-good “playlist” of issues you care about comes into play. Check out WeVote, where you can create a digital ballot, based on the issues that matter to you.

When you follow those issues, WeVote suggests endorsements based on those interests. WeVote also shows you which organizations, elected officials, and candidates share your interests, so you can make more informed decisions when it comes time to vote. You also can connect with friends and family to share ballots and see how other people in your network are voting. Make some noise!

About WeVote

WeVote is a 100% volunteer-driven non-profit with a mission to build the next generation of voting tech so voters at a hyper-local level can be informed on the issues they care about, curated by people they trust. By connecting neighbor with neighbor and friend with friend, we help voters cut through the clutter to understand what’s on their ballot. The open platform lets anybody create and share voter guides that aggregate information and opinions across networks, so you can help others become better voters too. Vote red, vote blue, vote rainbows; we don’t care; we just want you to vote, and that’s why we’re here.