Report: Oregon’s millennial voter registration soars

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is highlighting a new report that says the state’s unique voter registration program has led to a surge of millennial voters.

Brown said Thursday that the study from the Center for American Progress could be key to engaging young voters. This comes as the state considers a bill to lower the voting age to 16.

The study found that nearly 78,000 16- and 17-year-olds preregistered to vote under the state’s automatic voter registration program. The law automatically registers Oregonians when they get a driver’s license.

It noted there could be 22 million newly registered voters in the first year alone if the program was implemented nationwide.

The governor says a rise in young voters will “change the issues candidates are focused on.”

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News release from the governor’s office:

Governor Kate Brown Celebrates Success of Automatic Voter Registration in New Report

(Washington, D.C.) — Governor Kate Brown today celebrated the success of automatic voter registration during an event with the Center for American Progress (CAP). Oregon has enacted a series of reforms under Governor Brown’s leadership to improve access to the ballot box. Oregon is now a national model for inclusive democracy and has one of the highest voter participation rates in the country.

“States like Georgia and Texas are passing voter suppression laws targeted at young people,” said Governor Kate Brown. “In Oregon, I’m committed to ensuring every eligible young voter has an opportunity to have their voice heard. Young people have a vested interest in Oregon’s future and should be able to register and cast their vote free from barriers.”

Oregon became the first state in the nation to pass automatic voter registration when Governor Kate Brown signed the legislation into law. Since the passage of Oregon’s law, 17 states and the District of Columbia have adopted some form of automatic voter registration legislation. Governor Brown celebrated the new report that illustrated the success that automatic voter registration and pre-registration policies have had in registering and empowering eligible young people to vote.

The new report from CAP and Generation Progress highlights the important role automatic voter registration and the pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds play in facilitating voter participation among young people who are often disenfranchised by cumbersome voter registration rules. Among the key findings of the report: In Oregon, more than 77,800 16- and 17-year-olds pre-registered and updated their voter information through the state’s automatic voter registration program between 2016 and 2018.

Governor Brown reiterated her defending democracy agenda and called on other states to join her efforts. At the event, Generation Progress also unveiled a new youth voter story bank. “Our Voice, Our Vote” will serve as a tool to collect real anecdotes from real people and show lawmakers across the country the challenges that young people face when exercising their right to vote.