Pre-Registration of 16 and 17 Year Olds
Issue: Expanding Democracy
Target Level of Office: State
Policy Origin: Nebraska State Legislature
Poilcy/Bill Number: Legislative Bill 127
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=259
YEO Sponsor:
Sen. Amanda McGill
Summary Narrative of the Policy: This bill seeks to centralize and maintain a single online
database for all legally registered voters in the state, and allow eligible 16 and 17 year-old to
pre-register to vote.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• Pre-registration is an election procedure that allows individuals younger than 18 years of
age to register to vote, so they are eligible to cast a ballot when they reach 18. The central
goal of pre-registration is to encourage voting among young people, the demographic
that consistently demonstrates the lowest voter turnout rates.
• According to a case study of Hawaii and Florida by George Mason University, preregistration encourages youth turnout especially when the first-time youth voters are
registered at already-established points of contact, such as school civics classes or at the
DMV.
• According to Fair Vote, evidence suggests that pre-registration efforts have limited or no
fiscal impact, but have a direct impact on voter registration rates and civic participation
when implemented effectively.
Policy
2014 Book
State Level
93