As high school graduates cross the stage this year, fewer than half are likely registered to vote.
That statistic may come as a surprise to many parents, students, and educators. After all, thanks to the California Motor Voter Law, students can pre-register to vote starting at age 16, and they’re automatically offered the opportunity when applying for a driver’s license at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Yet in 2022, only about 13% of California’s 16- and 17-year-olds were pre-registered, according to The Civics Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization.
Many students miss this voter pre-registration opportunity. For example, those who apply for a learner’s permit before they turn 16 are not offered voter pre-registration. Additionally, about half of California teens who obtain a driver’s license choose to opt out of registering to vote. Compounding the issue is a growing trend: fewer young people are getting driver’s licenses. In 2024, USA Today reported that only about 40% of the country’s 21.4 million 15- to 19-year-olds had a license—and the number is still dropping.
This contributes to a perception gap: Many assume high school graduates are already registered to vote, but national data shows that the youngest voters consistently have the lowest registration rates of any age group.
There are some bright spots. In the El Segundo Unified School District in Los Angeles County, for example, 8 out of 10 high school graduates were registered to vote in 2024. But districts like this are the exception, not the rule. According to The Civics Center, “most schools and school districts do little or nothing to help young people register to vote before graduation. The lack of infrastructure drives down registration rates for young people and their election turnout.”
That’s unfortunate because the potential impact of youth voter registration is enormous. In 2020, 86% of registered voters aged 18 to 24 turned out to vote. The turnout among young citizens lagged behind older voters—not due to apathy, but mainly because so many eligible young people were not registered in the first place.
To change that, The Civics Center offers free, nonpartisan programs to support high school student-led voter registration drives. Their “Democracy in a Box” and free resources for educators can make holding a voter registration drive straightforward and fun for high school students. Their 2025 spring campaign, Cap, Gown and Ballot, even offers $150 gift cards to students who help their school participate.
Local PTAs and PTSAs can be vital partners in these efforts. The California State PTA has long supported youth civic engagement. In our 2020 Position Statement “Voting,” CAPTA affirms the importance of “fostering voting habits early in life and cultivating a habit of lifelong voting.” Research shows these habits begin in adolescence and often last a lifetime. As the “Voting” Position Statement declares, “California State PTA also believes that our constitutional right to vote is the foundation of American democracy and our representative form of government.”
The California State PTA website contains a section devoted to voter registration information and resources for students and adults. The California Secretary of State’s website provides specific information about the DMV pre-registration process.
Graduation is a milestone worth celebrating—and a perfect opportunity to help students take their first step into civic participation. Local PTAs and PTSAs can play an influential role in ensuring that our graduates are not only ready for college and careers but also ready to vote. Let’s make sure caps and gowns go hand in hand with ballots.