Governor’s Civic Engagement Award
- Register your high school for 2024-2025
- 2022-2023 Winners
- Bridge 21 HS link
- 2024-2025 Award announced to recognize PA high schools and students who engage students in voting.
YOUTH AND THE VOTE
Please select a state from the dropdown below to view detailed information and resources regarding Youth Voting in that state.
PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH VOTE
Deadline for registration: October 21, 2024
STUDENTS: REGISTER & VOTE IN PENNSYLVANIA
1. REGISTER
You can register if you will be 18 on or before November 3, 2026 and meet Pennsylvania’s other eligibility requirements.
Registration deadline: October 19, 2026. Pennsylvania does not have Election Day registration.
2. CHECK
Already registered? Confirm your registration status and current information.
3. MAKE A VOTING PLAN
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Polls: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Mail ballot application deadline: October 27, 2026 at 5 p.m.
- Completed mail ballot due: November 3, 2026 by 8 p.m. Your county election office must receive your ballot by the deadline.
4. CHECK YOUR ID
Most Pennsylvania voters do not routinely show ID each time they vote. First-time voters at a polling place must show an approved form of identification. Acceptable forms include photo and some non-photo IDs.
Learn more about first-time voter ID requirements.
NEED HELP? USEFUL NONPARTISAN LINKS
VoteRiders: Free, nonpartisan help understanding voter-ID requirements and obtaining identification when needed.
VOTE411: Nonpartisan candidate, ballot, polling-place and election information from the League of Women Voters Education Fund.
The Civics Center: Pennsylvania eligibility information plus resources and training for high-school voter-registration drives.
PA Youth Vote: Pennsylvania’s nonpartisan collaboration of students, educators and organizations working to increase youth registration and civic participation.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Become a poll worker: eligible 17-year-old high-school students can serve with required approvals.
- Register classmates through a nonpartisan school drive.
- Volunteer with qualified nonprofit, nonpartisan civic organizations.
- Share official registration, deadline, ID and voting information.
- Support qualified nonprofit, nonpartisan civic-education and voter-registration organizations.
HOW IS PENNSYLVANIA DOING?
22% of Pennsylvania’s 18-year-olds were registered as of May 4, 2026, compared with 82% of people age 45+. About 182,000 Pennsylvanians turn 18 each year.
Important: Display the registration rate together with its snapshot date and election-cycle context.
SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS & COMMUNITIES TO WATCH
Franklin Towne Charter High School — Philadelphia
Reportedly registered 86% of eligible students in 2025 and earned a Governor’s Civic Engagement Award. Useful model for high registration in a low-registration state. Learn more
Carlisle High School — Cumberland County
Repeated Governor’s Civic Engagement Award recipient; useful as a model of sustained school practice over multiple years. Confirm at the August 18 meeting the reported practice of birthday/eligibility outreach to students. Learn more
Delta High School — Centre County
Registered 100% of eligible students in 2025–26. Learn more
Union Area Middle/High School — Lawrence County
Registered 100% of eligible students in 2025–26. Learn more
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM PENNSYLVANIA?
Pennsylvania does not lack successful models; the challenge appears to be scale and consistency. The key question is how practices from high-performing schools and programs can be adapted and expanded across the state.
PENNSYLVANIA
38.20%
YOUTH TURNOUT 2022
Ages 18-24 (Census)
- PA Youth Vote is a student-led nonpartisan coalition dedicated to putting students first and getting all 18 year olds to the polls on Election Day.
- Voter IDs for first time voters.
- Low registration rates of eligible voters in Civics Center analysis of Pennsylvania schools.155,000 individuals turn 18 each year in Pennsylvania per Census and AP data. See Future Voter Score Card.
College and University initiatives
- State voting portal for college students.
- 72 campuses participated in ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (see map).
- Eight campuses won Platinum Awards for voter turnout rates > 80%.
- Dickinson College achieved 85% turnout in one of the highest rates nationally. Dickinson Votes partnered with the Upsilon Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to host voter registration at the Black Cultural Festival hosted by a local nonprofit, Hope Station
- Pennsylvania ranked #1 for Youth Voter Impact in 2022.
- PA Youth Vote on Instagram
- Pennsylvania Campus Voter Guide
Other Factors and Initiatives
- School shootings stimulated interest in civic participation.
Pennsylvania Campus Voting Challenge Award Winners
- 4-Year Institutions Highest Voting Rate: Bryn Mawr College
- Highest Voter Registration Rate: Bryn Mawr College
- Most Improved Voting Rate: Saint Francis University
- Community Colleges Highest Voting Rate: Montgomery County Community College
- Highest Voter Registration Rate: Community College of Allegheny County
- Most Improved Voting Rate: Community College of Beaver County
Pennsylvania ranked #1 for Youth Voter Impact in 2022.
Pennsylvania |
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2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2020 |
2022 |
2024 |
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Midterm |
General |
Midterm |
General |
Midterm |
General |
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VOTER TURNOUT 18-29 |
17.60% | 52.50% | 35.80% | 58.40% | 40.40% | Frey* | |
VOTER TURNOUT 18-19 |
– | – | – | 48.00% | – | CIRCLE* | |
REGISTRATION RATE 18-24 |
36.10% | 60.40% | 47.70% | 57.30% | 53.30% | Census* | |
VOTER TURNOUT 18-24 |
10.40% | 48.70% | 31.90% | 49.40% | 38.20% | Census* | |
