Source: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/preregistration-for-young-voters.aspx
Timestamp: 2020-02-17 16:03:07
Document Index: 282218891

Matched Legal Cases: ['§15', '§ 16', 'Art. 3', '§ 1', '§2102', '§1', '§ 1701', '§ 2050', '§ 1', '§ 97', '§ 21', '§11', '§ 34', '§3', '§48', '§25', '§116', '§116', '§116', '§ 116', '§155', '§3', '§ 42', '§ 47', '§ 42', '§ 47', '§201', '§ 23', '§115', '§32', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 163', '§ 16', '§3503', 'Art. 3', '§ 1', '§ 4', 'Art. 3', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§247', '§17', '§ 7', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 2', '§ 13', '§ 2121', '§ 24', '§3', '§6', '§22']

State Statutes on Registration
Wendy Underhill NCSL Elections Team; 303-364-7700
Preregistration is an election procedure that allows individuals younger than 18 years of age to register to vote, so they are eligible to cast a ballot when they reach 18, the voting age for all state and federal elections. Typically, a pre-registrant will fill out an application and be added to the voter registration list with a “pending” or “preregistration” status. Upon turning 18, the individual is added to the voter registration list and able to cast a ballot.
Preregistration states vary in terms of their registration age limits. Some allow 16-year-olds to preregister, and others allow 17-year-olds to preregister. The remaining preregistration states do not establish a specific preregistration age limit. Instead, these states allow youth to register to vote before the age of 18, provided that they will be of voting age by the time of the next general election. See the section on Voter Registration Ages below for more information.
Some states also permit 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections, provided that they will turn 18 before the general election. FairVote provides information on states that permit 17-year-olds to vote in congressional primaries and presidential primaries or caucuses.
More details in Table 1 below.
Turnout. The argument for implementing preregistration policies has to do with increasing youth turnout. Turnout among 18 to 29-year-olds is consistently lower than other age brackets, so states looking to preregistration as one option to engage young voters in the electoral process. A series of studies have shown the preregistration has a positive effect on youth turnout:
Logistics. Since preregistered youth may move between preregistration and their first chance to vote, these registrations may no longer be accurate and valid. States may need to send notifications to preregistered voters once they turn 18 to confirm the registration and address information. There may also need to be updates or additions to the statewide voter registration database in order to enter preregistrations and track this information.
Cost. Costs may be a factor; implementation in Colorado was estimated at $572,112 in 2013. Additionally, the cost of returned mailings to this mobile population can be significant.
Identification. Younger voters may not have a driver’s license, so what identification is required in order to preregister? Is an affidavit signed by a parent sufficient?
Location. Where should preregistration take place? Does the state need to work with the department of motor vehicles or with high schools?
Protected information. Consider whether information for preregistered voters should be protected and not provided on publicly available voter lists.
Education and outreach. How do get the word out that this option is available and reach out to potential young voters?
Table 1: State Statutes on Registration
Const. of Ala. Article VIII
18 by the election
Every citizen of the United States who has attained the age of eighteen years and has resided in this state and in a county thereof for the time provided by law, if registered as provided by law, shall have the right to vote in the county of his or her residence.
AS §15.07.040
Within 90 days preceding 18th birthday
A person who is qualified under AS 15.05.010(1)--(3) is entitled to register at any time throughout the year except that a person under 18 years of age may register at any time within 90 days immediately preceding the person's 18th birthday.
A.R.S. § 16-101
AR Const. Art. 3, § 1
CA Elec. Code §2102(2)(d)
(Enacted by SB 113 in 2014)
16-year-olds may preregister
A person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements to vote may submit his or her affidavit of registration as prescribed by this section. A properly executed affidavit of registration made pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed effective as of the date the affiant will be 18 years of age, if the information in the affidavit of registration is still current at that time. If the information provided by the affiant in the affidavit of registration is not current at the time that the affidavit of registration would otherwise become effective, for his or her registration to become effective, the affiant shall provide the current information to the proper county elections official as prescribed by this chapter.
Colo. Rev. Stat. §1-2-101(2)(a)(I)
(Enacted by HB 1135 in 2013)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, upon satisfactory proof of age, every person who is otherwise qualified to register and is sixteen years of age or older but will not have reached eighteen years of age by the date of the next election may preregister and update his or her preregistered information by any means authorized in this article for persons eighteen years of age or older. Upon reaching eighteen years of age, the person is automatically registered.
15 Del. Code § 1701(b)
(Enacted by HB 381 in 2010)
(b) The Department shall permit registration of any citizen and bona fide resident of this State 16 years of age or older through the Division of Motor Vehicles as set forth in § 2050(a) of this title, provided that such applicant shall not be a qualified voter unless the person will be 18 years of age or older on or before the day of the general election next succeeding the applicant's registration.
D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(a-2)
(Enacted in 2009)
A person who is otherwise qualified may pre-register on or after that person's 16th birthday and may vote in any election occurring on or after that person's 17th birthday; provided, that the person is at least 18 years of age on or before the next general election.
Fla. Stat. § 97.041(b)
(Enacted by SB 866 in 2008)
A person who is otherwise qualified may preregister on or after that person's 16th birthday and may vote in any election occurring on or after that person's 18th birthday.
Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-216(c)
17.5-year-olds may preregister
HRS §11-12
(Enacted by SB 280 in 1993)
16-year-olds may preregister, and 17-year-olds may register but not vote
(a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen years or who is seventeen years of age and will be eighteen years of age by the date of the next election, and is otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election. The person shall then be listed upon the appropriate county general register and precinct list. No person shall register or vote in any other precinct than that in which the person resides except as provided in section 11-21.
(b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen years of age but will not be eighteen years of age by the date of the next election may preregister upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching age eighteen.
Idaho Code § 34-402
Every male or female citizen of the United States, eighteen (18) years old, who has resided in this state and in the county for thirty (30) days where he or she offers to vote prior to the day of election, if registered within the time period provided by law, is a qualified elector.
For the purposes of this Code, an individual who is 17 years of age and who will be 18 years of age on the date of the general or consolidated election shall be deemed competent to execute and attest to any voter registration forms.
Ind. Code §3-7-13-1
(1) will be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the next general, municipal, or special election;
(2) is a United States citizen; and
(3) resides in a precinct continuously before a general, municipal, or special election for at least thirty (30) days;
may, upon making a proper application under this article, register to vote in that precinct.
Iowa Code Election Laws §48A.5(2)
(Originally enacted by SF 2194 in 2010, amended by HF 516 in 2017)
2. To be qualified to register to vote an eligible elector shall:
c. (1) Be at least eighteen years of age. However, for purposes of voting in the primary election, an eligible elector shall be at least eighteen years of age on the date of the respective general election or city election. Completed registration forms shall be accepted from registrants who are at least seventeen years of age. For an election other than a primary election, the registration shall not be effective until the registrant reaches the age of eighteen. The commissioner of registration shall ensure that the birth date shown on the registration form is at least seventeen years earlier than the date the registration is processed.
(2) A registrant who is at least seventeen years of age and who will be eighteen by the date of a pending election is a registered voter for the pending election for purposes of chapter 53. For purposes of voting in a primary election under chapter 43, a registrant who will be at least eighteen years of age by the date of the respective general election or city election is a registered voter for the pending primary election.
Kan. Rev. Stat. §25-2306
The application for registration shall include a statement by the applicant that he will have reached the age of eighteen (18) years before the next statewide general election. No person may vote at any election until he has reached the age of eighteen (18) years.
§116.045, §116.055
18 by the election.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §116.045(1) Any person may register as a voter during the period registration is open if he or she possesses, or will possess on the day of the next regular election, the qualifications set forth in KRS 116.025.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055… The qualifications shall be determined as of the date of the primary, without regard to the qualifications or disqualifications as they may exist at the succeeding regular election, except that minors seventeen (17) years of age who will become eighteen (18) years of age on or before the day of the regular election shall be entitled to vote in the primary if otherwise qualified.
Louis. Rev. Stat.
18:101 A(3)
(Enacted by HB 501 in 2014)
(3) A person who is sixteen years of age may register to vote in the manner provided in R.S. 18:114(B)(1) or by making application in person at the office of the registrar of voters. However, no one under the age of eighteen years shall be permitted to vote in any election
21- M.R.S.A. §155
17-year-olds may preregister
The registrar shall conditionally accept the registration and enrollment of any person who is 17 years of age and who is otherwise qualified to be a voter. The conditional registration automatically becomes effective on the person's 18th birthday and the registrant then is eligible to vote. A person who has registered under this section and who has not attained 18 years of age may vote by absentee ballot at any election if that person attains 18 years of age on or before the date of the election and is otherwise eligible to vote by absentee ballot.
MD Elec. Law §3-102
(Enacted by HB 217 in 2010)
(a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may become registered to vote if the individual:
M.G.L.A. 51 § 42
M.G.L.A. 51 § 47A
M.G.L.A. 51 § 42. Registration as a voter shall be by affidavit of registration made in conformity with the requirements of this chapter by any person at least 16 years of age or older.
M.G.L.A. 51 § 47A. If, after examination of an affidavit of registration, it appears to the registrars that the person has all the qualifications to be registered as a voter except that of age and the person has obtained the age of 16, then they shall enter the person's name in the current annual register of voters with the designation “pre-registrant” or other term or code as specified by the state secretary. The designation shall be removed when the person, on or before the day of the next preliminary, primary, special or general election or town meeting, attains full age. No pre-registrant shall be allowed to vote until the pre-registrant obtains full age unless otherwise permitted by law.
M.C.L.A. 168.492
Each person who has the following qualifications of an elector, or who will have those qualifications at the next election or primary election, is entitled to register as an elector in the township, city, or village in which he or she resides. The person shall be a citizen of the United States; not less than 18 years of age; a resident of the state for not less than 30 days; and a resident of the township, city, or village on or before the thirtieth day before the next regular or special election or primary election.
Minn. Stat. Ann. §201.071
“I certify that I:
(1) will be at least 18 years old on election day…
“(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?” and
“(2) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?”…
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11
Every inhabitant of this state, except persons adjudicated to be non compos mentis, who is a citizen of the United States of America, eighteen (18) years old and upwards… Any person who will be eighteen (18) years of age or older on or before the date of the general election and who is duly registered to vote not less than thirty (30) days before the primary election associated with the general election, may vote in the primary election even though the person has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday at the time that the person seeks to vote at the primary election. No others than those specified in this section shall be entitled, or shall be allowed, to vote at any election.
Mo. Rev. Stat §115.133(1)
(Enacted by HB 23 in 1993)
Except as provided in subsection 2 of this section, any citizen of the United States who is a resident of the State of Missouri and seventeen years and six months of age or older shall be entitled to register and to vote in any election which is held on or after his eighteenth birthday.
MCA 13-2-205
An individual who is not eligible to register because of residence or age requirements but who will be eligible on or before election day may apply for voter registration pursuant to 13-2-110 and be registered subject to verification procedures established pursuant to 13-2-109.
Neb. Rev. Stat §32-110
Nev. Rev. Stat. 293.524 (Enacted by SB 144 in 2017)
Every citizen of the United States who is 17 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age and has continuously resided in this State for 30 days or longer may preregister to vote by any of the means available for a person to register to vote pursuant to this title. A person eligible to preregister to vote is deemed to be preregistered to vote upon the submission of a completed application to preregister to vote.
NH RSA 654:7
NJ R.S. 19:31-5
(Enacted by SB 832 in 2015)
Each person, who is at least 17 years of age at the time he or she applies for registration, who resides in the district in which he or she expects to vote, who will be of the age of 18 years or more on or before the first election in which he or she expects to vote, who is a citizen of the United States, and who, if he or she continues to reside in the district until that election, will at the time have fulfilled all the requirements as to length of residence to qualify him or her as a legal voter, shall, unless otherwise disqualified, be entitled to be registered in such district. Each 17-year-old registrant shall be designated in the Statewide voter registration system as temporarily ineligible to vote until the registrant's 18th birthday
N. M. Stat. Ann. § 1-4-2
B. If a person who is seventeen years old will be a qualified elector on the day of the general election and registers to vote in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A of this section, for the purposes of the primary election, that person shall be considered to be a voter and may vote in the primary election immediately preceding that general election.
McKinney's Election Law § 5-210, § 5-507
Section 5-507. Voter pre-registration and education on voter pre-registration. 1. Pre-registration. A person who is at least sixteen years of age and who is otherwise qualified to register to vote may pre-register to vote, and shall be automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility as provided by this chapter.
N.C.G.S.A. § 163-82.1
Note: Pre-registration was removed by HB 589 in 2013. That law was subsequently struck down by the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals, leaving 16-year-olds able to preregister according to the North Carolina Board of Elections webpage.
(d) Preregistration. --A person who is at least 16 years of age but will not be 18 years of age by the date of the next election and who is otherwise qualified to register may preregister to vote and shall be automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility following verification of the person's qualifications and address in accordance with G.S. 163-82.7.
N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-01-04
18 at election
North Dakota does not have voter registration, but:
1. To qualify as an elector of this state, an individual must be:
b. Eighteen years or older; and
c. A resident of this state who has resided in the precinct at least thirty days immediately preceding any election.
OH Rev. Code §3503.01
OK Const. Art. 3, § 1
26 Okl. Stat. Ann. § 4-103
OK Const. Art. 3, § 1. Subject to such exceptions as the Legislature may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen (18) years, who are bona fide residents of this state, are qualified electors of this state.
26 Okl. Stat. Ann. § 4-103. Any person who will become a qualified elector during the sixty (60) days before the next ensuing election at which he could vote shall be entitled to become a registered voter of the precinct of his or her residence not more than sixty (60) and not less than twenty-four (24) days prior to said election.
ORS §247.016
(Originally enacted by HB 2910 in 2007. SB 802 in 2017 reduced preregistration age from 17 to 16).
(1) Subject to this section, an otherwise qualified person who is at least 16 years of age may register to vote.
RI Gen. Laws §17-9.1-33
16-year-olds may preregister, and 17-year-olds may register if they will be 18 by the election
(a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years or who is seventeen (17) years of age and will be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, and is otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election.
(b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen (16) years of age, but will not be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, may preregister upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching eighteen (18) years of age.
S.C. Code § 7-5-120
S.C. Const. Art. II, § 4
S.C. Const. Art. II, § 4. Every citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law.
SDCL § 12-3-1
SDCL § 12-4-1
SDCL § 12-3-1. Every person resident of this state who shall be of the age of eighteen years and upwards, not otherwise disqualified, who shall have complied with the provisions of law relating to the registration of voters shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state.
SDCL § 12-4-1. Every person residing within the state who has the qualifications of a voter prescribed by § 12-3-1 or 12-3-1.1, or who will have such qualifications at the next ensuing municipal, primary, general, or school district election, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter in the voting precinct in which he resides.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-104
The following persons may register permanently under this title: (3) A person who will be eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of the next election after the person applies to register and who is otherwise eligible to register.
Tex. El. Code Ann § 13.001
Individuals 17 years and 10 months old may register
UT Code 20A-2-101.1
(1) An individual may preregister to vote if the individual:
(a) is 16 or 17 years of age;
(b) will not be 18 years of age before the next election;
(d) has been a resident of Utah for at least 30 days; and
(e) currently resides within the voting district or precinct in which the individual preregisters to vote.
(2) An individual described in Subsection (1) may not vote in an election and is not registered to vote until:
(a) the individual is at least 18 years of age; and
(b) the county clerk registers the individual to vote under Subsection (4).
17 V.S.A. § 2121
(b) Any person meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)-(3) of this section who will be 18 years of age on or before the date of a general election may register and vote in the primary election immediately preceding that general election.
VA Code Ann. § 24.2-403
18 before the election
Rev. Code of Wash. 29A.08.230
*Effective July 1, 2019 Rev. Code of Wash. 29A.08.170 will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to preregister.
Rev. Code of Wash. 29A.08.230. For all voter registrations, the registrant shall sign the following oath:
“I declare that the facts on this voter registration form are true. I am a citizen of the United States, I will have lived at this address in Washington for at least thirty days immediately before the next election at which I vote, I will be at least eighteen years old when I vote, I am not disqualified from voting due to a court order, and I am not under department of corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.”
W. Va. Code §3-2-2
Wis. Stat. Ann. §6.05
Any person who will be 18 years old on or before election day is entitled to vote if the person complies with this chapter.
Wyo. Stat. §22-3-102
(a) A person may register to vote not less than fourteen (14) days before an election, at any election specified in W.S. 22-2-101(a)(i) through (viii) or as provided by W. S. 22-3-117, who satisfies the following qualifications:
(i) He is a citizen of the United States;
(ii) He will be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the next general election provided he shall not be permitted to vote until he has attained the age of eighteen (18);
NCSL’s newsletter The Canvass article on increasing youth turnout
Article in the Legislation and Public Policy Journal Registering the Youth Through Voter Preregistration
Report from the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
Voting Age for Primary Elections
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