YOUTH AND THE VOTE
Please select a state from the dropdown below to view detailed information and resources regarding Youth Voting in that state.
District of Columbia |
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2024 |
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VOTER TURNOUT 18-29 |
32.20% | 69.80% | 56.70% | 85.30% | 49% | Frey* | |
VOTER TURNOUT 18-19 |
– | – | – | – | – | Census* | |
REGISTRATION RATE 18-24 |
– | – | – | – | 60% | CIRCLE* | |
VOTER TURNOUT 18-24 |
– | – | – | – | 43.70% | Census* | |
WASHINGTON DC
43.70%
YOUTH TURNOUT
Ages 18-24 (Census)
WASHINGTON, DC YOUTH VOTE
TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT OF YOUNG VOTERS
State efforts to facilitate youth voting
- DC Board of Elections registration information. Online, in-person and same day voter registration are available
- Starting in 2024, non-US citizens are allowed to register and vote in local elections.
- DC is a national center of civic engagement on issues of concern to young people, e.g. gun safety, reproductive rights, climate, etc.
High school Initiatives
- Registration: Pre-registration available from 16. Registration and voting is allowed at 17 in primary elections if 18 by the general.
- Board of Elections outreach to DC high schools and campuses.
- From age 16, students can be paid poll workers.
- LWVDC supports high school registration.
- On-line National Youth Summit for middle and high school students at DC-based Smithsonian Institution.
- Successful high school voter registration:
- National Honor Society and Rotary Interact chapters leading voter registration at Richard Wright PCS.
- 2024: State Board of Education resolution to create a citywide high school voter registration contest.
Find your high school!
College and University initiatives
- Four DC campuses participated in the 2022 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. 2022 NSLVE data is not yet available.
- Because of large out of state student bodies, several campuses partnered with TurboVote to facilitate voting in home states.
- Blackgirlsvote.com has an active DC chapter on the Howard University campus.
- WASHINGTON, DC CAMPUS VOTER GUIDE
OTHER INFLUENCES
- Voters 18-29 represent 27.1% of the electorate – the highest proportion in the US (tied with Utah).
- Lack of statehood status and full Congressional representation may decrease interest in elections.
