Increasing the Youth Vote

UPDATE 3/12/13 3:00 PM: Great news! The preregistration bill that would make it possible for 16 and 17 year old to preregister to vote has passed through the House TODAY, and now goes on to the Senate. It’s just makes sense, not only does it create a more accessible democracy, but has shown in other states that it would increase the likelihood of first time voters.

UPDATE 3/4/13 12:30 PM: Exciting news, the preregistration bill keeps on moving through the house; in fact TOMORROW the full House will vote to move this bill to the Senate. This bill makes it possible for eligible 16 and 17 year olds to preregister to vote, becoming active when they turn 18. We are urging our state Representatives to vote yes on this bill, Can you help us? Send a message to your Representative TODAY to ask them to vote YES tomorrow on HB 1135. It’s just makes sense to make the voting process more accessible to eligible voters, and we all know Democracy works better when more people show up.

More than half of eligible 18-29 year olds in Colorado are NOT registered to vote. It’s time to do something more to support youth engagement in the electoral process; House Bill 1135 does just that. It would allow eligible 16 and 17 year olds to preregister to vote, then on their 18^th birthday the registration would become active. The bill has already passed through one committee in the Colorado House, and it’s scheduled for an Appropriations committee hearing this Friday, March 1^st.

First steps to a victory? Well we certainly think so. This bill not only will allow 16 year olds to be able to preregister to vote but it encourages a sense of civic duty at an early age. 13 other states have already implemented preregistration and have shown that it increases civic engagement in first time voters as well as instills a long term sense of duty.

For most teenagers there is nothing more exciting than getting their driver’s license, but many are not as excited about registering to vote. The idea behind the bill is to make it easier on them. (Denver CBS 4, Jan. 26, 2013)

We hope to see this bill pass. Follow the Voting Heroes on Facebook to keep track of this bill.