John, I’m writing with a concerning update on young people’s ability to vote across the U.S.
You see, young Americans already turn out to vote at dishearteningly low levels – just 23% in last year’s elections. [1] And John, believe it or not, that’s actually one of the highest levels of midterm participation we’ve seen in decades.
Here’s the worst part: Some politicians are now trying to discourage young Americans from voting entirely!
Just recently, Ohio passed a law requiring a state issued ID to vote in person or early, but excluded student IDs as an option to prove identity. That forces out-of-state students who'd like to vote in person to apply for a new ID – and causes their drivers' licenses to be rescinded in the process!
It’s sinister and shameful – but now similar tactics have spread to Idaho, which has followed suit and banned student IDs as an acceptable form of voter ID.
And Ohio and Idaho aren’t the only ones – Texas stoked a national outcry in 2014 when it passed a law declaring that handgun licenses are acceptable voter ID, but student IDs are not. [2]
Let me be clear: This is a concerted effort to suppress the youth vote – from politicians who think young people won’t vote for them. And trust me, these won’t be the last schemes like this we have to fight.
Legislators in states like Virginia and New Hampshire have made similar attempts to make it harder for college students to vote. And Texas is trying to take youth voter suppression a step further by attempting to ban polling places on college campuses!
This is undemocratic – plain and simple. A democracy that works for us all allows each and every one of us to have a voice. Young voter turnout is already too low – and policymakers have a duty to include young folks in democracy, not deliberately shut them out.
But Ohio, Idaho, and Texas serve as shameful examples of what certain legislators will do to suppress voices that might vote them out.
Here’s the antidote: Common Cause’s Alliance for Emerging Power. We have made a major multi-year investment in developing the democracy leaders of tomorrow – giving them the skills and training they need to start registering and mobilizing their fellow young people to make a difference.
They’re lobbying legislators to BLOCK and REVERSE attempts to suppress the youth vote, helping fellow students get to the polls on election day, and training election protection volunteers so everyone can cast their ballot safely and securely.
But John, even with our organized team of youth activists, we have our work cut out for us. We’re up against powerful forces that are flooding big money into this fight to suppress the youth vote – and I need your help to see this through.
Please rush a contribution of $3 or more and equip our team with the resources they need to protect the youth vote across the U.S.
I’m writing to you today because I’m worried about the future of our democracy if our long-fought battles to protect the youth vote and increase their engagement in politics are dismantled by the GOP legislators that will do anything to stay in power.
I need to know I can count on your support as we push back on attempts to stop young people from voting in Texas, Idaho, Ohio, and beyond. Are you with me?
Thank you for standing up for young voters,
Alyssa Canty, Director of Youth Programs
and the team at Common Cause
[1] circle.tufts.edu/2022-election-center
[2] newrepublic.com/article/119900/texas-voter-id-allows-handgun-licenses-not-student-ids
