On National Registration Day: The Forgotten Voter
National Voter Registration Day is today.
While Democratic candidates nationwide are locked in when it comes to getting Americans registered to vote and broadening their tent, they would be well served not to ignore what is typically a forgotten demographic: 18-year-oldsvoting for the first time.
It's not only about connecting with 18-year-olds in college. It's about reaching out to 18-year-olds in high school, convincing them to register, and convincing them that their vote matters.
As an educational tool, Democratic candidates should carve out time in September and October to visit high schools and colleges and speak directly to young adults, including those turning 18. This isn't a symbolic gesture. It's a strategic necessity. In 2026, approximately four million high school students will turn 18 and become eligible to vote for the first time, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University.
Candidates should take a few days out of their schedules and meet these young voters where they are in their communities. Host an 18-year-old and young adult district-wide town hall. Many high schools have Young Democrat clubs affiliated with the national organization High School Democrats of America. Candidates should personally connect with the teacher advisors who oversee these clubs to discuss creative ways to engage students.
Treat these students like adults whose voices matter and impress upon them the significance of registering to vote.
That moment when they fill out a ballot for the first time can be a defining step into civic adulthood if someone takes the time to show them why it matters.
Four million new voters is not a footnote. In close races, it's a deciding force.
Yet first-time teen voters remain one of the most overlooked demographics in American politics. They're treated as an afterthought because their turnout has historically been low. Campaign managers often dismiss them as unreliable and not worth the time or budget. But that mindset ignores a simple truth: every vote counts the same, and in tight midterms, the margins that decide outcomes often come down to the voters campaigns never bothered to reach.
Connection alone isn't enough
The bigger challenge is registration, especially in high schools where students turn 18.
According to Laura W. Brill's recent op-ed in The Guardian, most states have no meaningful infrastructure to help 18-year-olds in high school register. Some states excel, with Oregon at 86 percent and Michigan at 77 percent, but others lag far behind, with Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio historically under 25 percent.
CIRCLE estimates that only 51 percent of 18-year-olds nationwide will be registered by November. That's the real crisis.
And it's also the real opportunity.
Democrats can help reverse this trend at the high school level by partnering with town governments and high schools to create senior field trips to local Registrars of Voters offices. Organize "High School Senior Day at the Registrar's Office," break students into manageable groups, and have unregistered 18-year-olds register on the spot. For many, it will be their first time inside a Registrar's Office, a hands-on introduction to the machinery of democracy.
Candidates can also collaborate with local chapters of the High School Democrats of America to organize registration drives within schools.
These students already care about civic engagement. Empower them to help their peers take the first step.
The same can be true at the college level, connecting with Generation Z, including 18-year-old freshmen.
Just about every college has a Democratic student group, and many are part of the College Democrats of America, the official collegiate arm of the Democratic National Committee.
Five Ways Democratic Candidates Can Reach First-Time Voters
Democratic candidates don't need to reinvent the wheel to connect with 18-year-olds. A handful of targeted efforts could make a meaningful difference.
Host district-wide First Vote Town Halls. Create events specifically for 18-year-olds and first-time voters where students can ask questions, discuss issues affecting their futures, and register to vote.
Visit high schools and colleges throughout September and October. Rather than relying solely on campaign rallies, candidates should spend time speaking directly to students about civic engagement, voting rights, and the importance of participation in democracy.
Partner with local governments to create Senior Day at the Registrar's Office. Organize field trips that allow eligible seniors to register on the spot while learning how elections are administered in their communities.
Work with High School Democrats of America chapters. Candidates should collaborate with student leaders and faculty advisors to organize peer-to-peer voter registration drives, empowering students to encourage their classmates to participate.
Launch a First Vote Story campaign. Share stories from veterans, teachers, parents, elected officials, and community leaders about casting their first ballot. Personal stories can make voting feel less intimidating and more meaningful for young people.
Grow the umbrella
Gen Z overall is on the Democratic radar. But part of the focus should be on 18-year-olds and connecting with them directly.
Democratic candidates for Congress likely have volunteers connecting with voters at local colleges in their districts. But candidates should find creative ways to personally make those connections and engage with students.
The Democratic umbrella always has room for more people, and first-time voters just need that nudge from candidates to come on in.
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