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From the Dispatch

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    Youth Registration Law Approved in Maryland

    Apr 15, 2010

    With a vote on the final day of the Maryland legislative session and an expected governor's signature, Maryland will become the fifth state with 16-year-old youth voter pre-registration.  The bill, HB 217, is expected to create thousands of new voters and encourage participation among young people.
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    Rhode Island Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto of Key Registration Reform

    Jan 07, 2010

    The Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to override a gubernatorial veto of important electoral reform legislation that will allow voter pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds.  Rhode Island now becomes the fifth state, and the fourth in three years, to allow minors to pre-register, a process where their voter registration automatically becomes active upon turning 18.

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    California Governor Signs Law to Boost Young Voter Participation

    Oct 22, 2009

    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation, AB 30, allowing the pre-registration of 17-year-olds in the state of California.  The state joins seven others that allow pre-registration at either 17 or 16.  This follows close on the heels of North Carolina, which made their pre-registration age 16 over the summer.  As with campaigns in other states, students themselves were the most persuasive advocates for pre-registration. 
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    North Carolina Passes Key Youth Voting Reform

    Aug 27, 2009

    Just at the end of the legislative session, North Carolina lawmakers passed a bi-partisan bill that will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote [H 908].  This will facilitate youth registration at two highly convenient locations — in school and at the motor vehicles department when applying for a driver's license.  Currently, the majority of voters register when conducting business at motor vehicle departments, and this change will extend that option to younger people as well.  And in doing so it will link in young peoples' minds the rite of passage of getting a driver's license with that of registering to vote.
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