Not registered to vote yet in the US? There’s a good chance you can still cast a ballot

Writing in an opinion column, Laura W Brill argues that campaigns are neglecting millions of young Americans who are unregistered yet may still be able to vote on 3 November. Mailers go to people already in voter files, despite more than $10bn spent this cycle, according to The Guardian.

By her estimates, just 45% of 18-year-olds nationwide are registered, versus 82% of people over 45. More than half of states let eligible unregistered residents vote provisionally on election day, in early voting, or both. Twenty-two states and Washington DC permit same-day registration and hold 1.7 million 18-year-olds, nearly half of them unregistered. California has nearly 300,000 eligible 18-year-olds, and over 1 million residents aged 18 to 24 are outside the voter file. Four others, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York and North Carolina, open that door only before election day.

Brill says voter files from four same-day states show more 18-year-olds join the rolls on election day than any other date, and turnout tends to rise where such access exists. Young people move often and notice races late, after deadlines. She urges readers to contact friends in those states.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →