200,000 California Teens Register to Vote

52:27

Scott Shafer

Nov 2, 2018 at

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Youth organizer Aaron Ibarra speaks before introducing former first lady Michelle Obama at a rally for When We All Vote's National Week of Action at Chaparral High School on September 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

According to the Harvard Kennedy School’s most recent survey of 18- to 29-year-old eligible voters, 40 percent report that they will “definitely vote” in the upcoming midterm elections. In California, a high youth voter turnout is expected as more than 200,000 16- and 17-year-olds have pre-registered in the last two years. We discuss engaging the youth vote, why many young voters are registering with no party affiliation and hear from some Bay Area teens about why they’re getting politically engaged.

KQED’s Complete Election Coverage
By the Bay Nonpartisan Nonboring Voter Guide
Turning Out: The Youth Vote (studentreportinglabs.org)

Guests:

Mindy Romero, director, The California Civic Engagement Project

Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University

Javaria Khan, student, El Cerrito High School

Khader Kakish, president and founder, UC Berkeley's Young Americans for Liberty Chapter

Melina Fike, student, Berkeley High School

Alicia Olivarez, program director, Power California