Turning 18 comes with a lot of firsts! Voting, jury duty, and don’t forget about buying a fresh lottery ticket. 🤑 But for most young Pennsylvanians, that first trip to the ballot box isn't happening, because they never registered. 🫢
Only 22% of the state's 18-year-olds are on the rolls, and it turns out the holdup isn't because teens don’t care. 💡 Much of it traces back to PA's own rulebook, from sign-up deadlines to what you can and can't do at 16. Here's what's keeping those numbers so low, and what could boost them. 👇
Here’s Five Fast Facts on Pennsylvania's young voter gap:
- 🤓 Study Hall - A new study ranked how well 30 states sign up their 18-year-olds to vote, and PA came in last, with just 22% of its 18-year-olds registered. That means nearly 4 out of 5 young Pennsylvanians are not signed up.
- 🫠 Last Place - PA isn’t just a little behind, it’s way off base. Oregon leads the country with 86% of its 18-year-olds registered, while nearby New Jersey sits at 48% and West Virginia at 55%. Even Maine still beats PA at 28%.
- ☑️ Rules of the Road - Part of the problem is when young people are allowed to register. Many states let teens preregister before they turn 18 so they’re ready to vote right away. Pennsylvania doesn’t, and bills to change that haven’t passed. Teens can get a driver's license at 16 and a half, but can’t sign up to vote at the same time.
- ⏰ Time Crime - PA's rules also make timing tricky. Teens turning 18 between the spring primary and the fall election have to wait until after the primary to register, which is right around graduation and summer break. That squeeze makes it hard for schools to sign students up before they break for summer.
- 🗳️ The Fix Is In - Experts say the low ranking isn’t something to blame teens for. If states let teens preregister, sign people up automatically at the DMV, and run registration drives in high schools, it could all push the numbers up.
🔥Bottom line: Registering to vote is quick, free, and the first step to having a say in what happens next! If you or a young person in your life is 18 or will be soon, you can check your status or sign up in minutes at vote.pa.gov. A few clicks now means you’re ready when the next election rolls around.
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