Voter Pre-Registration: FairVote proposes that states establish a uniform initial voter registration age of no older than 16. These pre-registered voters would be automatically added to the voting rolls when they reach voting age. Ideally, they would also be sent information about the mechanics of voting and the timing of the first election for which they are eligible. Evidence collected from different states suggests this change will typically have no fiscal impact, yet when combined with basic civic education, boost voter registration and participation of newly eligible voters.

Arizona:

Law Number: AZ H 2252 Voter Registration and Youth Registrants
2012 Status: Failed - Adjourned - House Judiciary Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/18/11
Author: Ableser (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Relates to voter registration, relates to youth registrants.

Colorado:
    
Law Number: CO H 1096 Voter Registration
2012 Status: Failed - Adjourned - Postponed Indefinitely
Date of Last Action: 01/20/11
Author: Gardner D (D)
Topics: Registration-Electronic| Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Concerns the ability of a person who has reached sixteen years of age but who will not be eighteen years of age by the date of the next election to preregister to vote, and, in connection therewith, allowing a preregistered person to change his or her place of residence on the secretary of state's official web site.

Illinois:
    
Law Number: IL S 1249 Voter Registration
2012 Status: Pending - Senate Committee on Assignments Committee
Date of Last Action: 02/08/11
Author: Frerichs (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Amends the Election Code, authorizes 17-year-olds to register to vote and requires election authorities to accept the registration of otherwise qualified 17-year-olds, provides that if the election authority sends those records to the polling places, it must clearly indicate that those persons are ineligible to vote, requires the Secretary of State and public assistance agencies that offer voter registration to offer registration to 17-year-olds.

Massachusetts:
    
Law Number: MA S 302 Pre-Registration of Voters
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 04/04/12
Author: DiDomenico (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Relates to pre-registration of voters.

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Law Number: MA H 1979 Minor Voter Preregistration
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 04/04/12
Author: Moran (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Authorizes persons to pre-register to vote prior to their eighteenth birthday.

Michigan:
    
Law Number: MI S 101 Voter Preregistration
2012 Status: Pending - Carryover - Senate Local Government and Elections Committee
Date of Last Action: 02/08/11
Author: Bieda (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Provides for preregistration to vote at age 16.

North Carolina:
    
Law Number: NC S 657 Election Administration Law Changes  (Legislaiton to oppose)
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 04/20/11
Author: Davis J (R)
Topics: Absentee Voting-Early Voting/In-Person Absentee| Ballots-Format & Design| Registration-Election Day| Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Makes various changes to the Election Administration Laws.

New Jersey:
    
Law Number: NJ S 2727 Voter Registration of Certain Persons At Age 17
2012 Status: Pending - Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee
Date of Last Action: 02/22/11
Author: Norcross (D) Additional Authors: Norcross (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Associated Bills: NJ A 3616 - Identical
Summary: Permits voter registration of certain persons at age 17 for voting at next election occurring on or after 18th Birthday.

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Law Number: NJ A 3616 Voting Registration at Age 17 
2012 Status: Pending - Assembly State Government Committee
Date of Last Action: 12/13/10
Author: Fuentes (D) Additional Authors: Stender (D);Moriarty (D);Wilson (D);McKeon (D);Quigley (D);Prieto (D);Wisniewski (D);Diegnan (D);Schaer (D);Caputo (D);Wagner (D);Giblin (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Associated Bills: NJ S 2727 - Identical
Summary: Permits voter registration of certain persons at age 17 for voting at next election occurring on or after 18th Birthday.

New York:

Law Number: NY A 7440 Voter Pre-Registration
2012 Status: Pending - Elections Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/04/12
Sponsor: Kavanagh (D)
Summary: Relates to voter pre-registration.

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Law Number: NY S 5256 Voter Pre-Registration
2012 Status: Pending - Elections Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/04/12
Sponsor: Carlucci (D)
Summary: Relates to voter pre-registration.

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Law Number: NY A 8631 Voter Pre-Registration
2012 Status: Pending - Election Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/18/12
Sponsor: Kavanagh (D)
Summary: Provides for voter registration forms to students by colleges, universities, and public school districts, and authorizes the pre-registration of 17-year olds.

South Carolina:
    
Law Number: SC H 3697 Voter Preregistration 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 02/16/11
Author: Sellers (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Provides that upon satisfactory proof of age, a person who is otherwise qualified to register to vote may preregister on or after his sixteenth birthday, provides that upon meeting the age qualification an elector who preregistered pursuant to this section must be registered automatically and permitted to vote in elections occurring on or after the elector's eighteenth birthday.

Washington:
    
Law Number: WA S 6128 Voter Preregistration 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 04/11/12
Author: Bieda (D)
Topics: Registration-Preregistration
Summary: Provides for preregistration to vote at age 16.

Last Updated 06/11/12