Once young people vote, they are likely to become voters for life, according to Heather Smith, president of Rock the Vote. “There is something special about casting a vote in person, something powerful in person,” she said at a teleconference organized by New America Media.
New barriers block young people from starting to vote, she said, and her group works to remove the barriers. Members of the millennial generation want to participate in democracy, but many do not have the most basic knowledge. It is not that they are uninterested or foolish, but it is that no one has taught them, according to Smith.
“We should be celebrating the attitudes of this millennial generation, that they do want to be involved in civic life,” said Smith.
Yet many potential young voters do not know, for example, that there are deadlines to register to vote before an election. Many are unaware of their state’s voter ID requirements.
Others might register to vote at home, then show up to vote at college, and be surprised not to be on the rolls. Not everyone knows that you must register where you plan to vote.
“There’s a lot of confusion over whether they can vote on campus or at home,” Smith said. Students have a constitutional right to choose where to register.
