This is the third analysis in our series examining the state-by-state turnout of young voters in the 2020 election.| circle.tufts.edu
When more—and more diverse—young people are politically engaged earlier in life, they are more likely to remain engaged in the future and to be part of an electorate that is more representative of the country, which should be a key goal of our democracy. The 2018 midterm elections saw an extraordinary increase in youth participation, but the youngest eligible voters—those aged 18 and 19—still voted at significantly lower rates.| circle.tufts.edu
The CIRCLE Youth Voting and Civic Engagement in America data tool includes a Facilitative Election Law score for each state. Research has shown that, just as some restrictive laws like ID requirements can negatively impact political engagement, facilitative election laws—especially related to voter registration—can have a positive effect.| circle.tufts.edu