From Pandemic Fears to Complex ID Requirements to Lack of nearby Polling Places, Young Voters in the Presidential Election are facing an Unprecedented array of Obstacles.
The Barriers, some Unintentional, others allegedly by Design, have sparked a wave of Lawsuits from New York to Texas to try to Ease Access to the Polls for Young and First-Time Voters.
Despite the Obstacles, Youth Voter enthusiasm is reaching Historic Highs and is expected to play a Key Role in the Presidential Election. As of Oct. 23rd, more than 5 Million Young People, ages 18-29, had Voted Early or Absentee in the 2020 Elections, including nearly 3 Million in Key Battleground States.
Still, Voting Rights Advocates point to efforts across the United States to Suppress the Youth Vote, including:
New York - Bard College and the Andrew Goodman Foundation filed a Lawsuit in September to get a Polling Site moved on Campus, arguing the current Location diminishes Students' Access to the Polls. The Case is Awaiting a Hearing by the State Supreme Court.
Texas - Republican-led Legislature Passed a Law last year that effectively Ended the Use of Temporary or Mobile Early Voting Sites, widely used on College Campuses. Texas Democrats Sued to Overturn the Law, arguing it Suppressed Young People’s Right to Vote.
Voters can use a Concealed Handgun License as Voter ID at a Polling Site but Not a Student ID, a Direct Impediment to Student Voting, said Drew Galloway, Executive Director of MOVE Texas, a Nonpartisan Youth Empowerment and Registration Group. His Group has filed several Lawsuits in the State for Issues Ranging from, making Mail-in-Ballots less Cumbersome to Forcing Counties to Open more Polling Locations.
Texas leaders say the Measures were put in place to Prevent Voter Fraud, though there has been Little Evidence of Widespread Fraud in the State. "Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is a primary function of state government and is one of my top priorities as attorney general," Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, states on his website.
Obstacles aside, Galloway said he’s seeing an Unmatched Enthusiasm among Young Voters this year. Despite a Pandemic that kept many Students Indoors through the summer, his Group Registered more than 55,000 New Voters this year, up from 24,000 last year. Also, Hundreds of Volunteers have flooded his Office to Help with Registering or Poll Monitoring, a First for his Organization, he said. “It's really, really exciting the number of young people who have turned out in this election so far,” Galloway said.
Wisconsin - Under Law, College Student IDs can be used for Voting Only if: they Display the Date they were Issued; an Expiration Date No more than Two years after the Issue Date; and a Signature. Students also need to show Proof of Residency and Enrollment. Advocates filed a Lawsuit Last year Challenging the Law but a Federal Judge, in September, Refused to Rule on it until after the Nov. 3rd Elections.
Issues such as these paired with Concerns over COVID-19 are creating Anxiety among Young Voters and may Prevent many from Voting.
Many of the Laws targeting Young Voters emerged after the 2018 Midterm Elections, when Young Voters made a surprisingly Robust showing at the Polls. Turnout Rates for Millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, soared from 22% in the 2014 Midterm Elections to 42% in the 2018 Contests. In that Election, 26 Million Millennials Cast their Vote, or nearly One-Fifth of All Votes.
States with Republican-led Legislatures, such as Texas and Wisconsin, pushed the New Laws Out to try to Stem the Growing Voting Muscle of Younger Voters, who strongly lean Democratic. Students are Energized this year by Issues such as: Climate Change; the Presidency of Trump; and Criminal Justice Reform. in the wake of the Death of George Floyd while in Police Custody.
There are Institutional Barriers that have been there for so Long they’re Preventing Young People from Voting. That’s what we’re Fighting to Change.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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