16-Year-Olds in Illinois Can Now Pre-Register to Vote

A new Illinois law took effect back on January 1, 2024, which permits 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website. This initiative aims to boost voter participation among young people by engaging them early in the electoral process. This article explores the details of the new law, its implications, and the efforts to encourage young voters to participate in elections.¹

Pre-Registration Process

Under the new law, 16-year-olds can pre-register to vote by submitting their application online. The Illinois State Board of Elections will hold these applications in abeyance until the applicants reach the eligible voting age. This pre-registration ensures that once these teens turn 18, their registration information is sent to their respective election authorities, making them ready to vote without any additional steps.

In order for Illinois teens to participate in the upcoming 2024 elections, individuals must be 17 years old on or before the Primary Election date (March 19, 2024) and turn 18 on or before the General Election date (November 5, 2024).² These rules have been in place since 2014.

Increasing Voter Participation

The Secretary of State’s office has championed this law as a method to increase voter participation and accessibility. Terry Maher, the head of ILVOTE of Champaign County, a nonpartisan voter registration organization, supports this initiative, recently stating: “Research has shown that the earlier potential voters get involved in the voting process in any shape, way, or form, the more likely they are to vote.”

Historically, younger voters have had lower turnout rates compared to older age groups. Data from the Illinois State Board of Elections indicates that in Champaign County during the 2020 presidential election, over 16,000 voters aged 18 to 24 cast their ballots. While this figure is comparable to other age groups, more than 22,000 voters aged 65 and above participated in the same election. In Sangamon County, nearly 7,500 voters aged 18 to 24 participated in the 2020 general election, marking the lowest turnout among all age groups in that county.³

Efforts to Engage Young Voters

ILVOTE of Champaign County has been proactive in registering young voters, organizing registration drives in local high schools, and encouraging young people to vote. “We don’t want to make it difficult in Illinois, we want everybody to vote,” Maher emphasized. This new pre-registration law is seen as a vital step towards making voting more accessible for young people.

Additionally, high school juniors and seniors in Illinois have the opportunity to serve as election judges, providing them further opportunity to get involved in the electoral process at a younger age.  

In Conclusion

The new law allowing 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote in Illinois represents a significant step towards increasing youth engagement in the democratic process. By making it easier for young people to register and preparing them to vote as soon as they are eligible, Illinois is fostering a culture of civic participation among its youth.  

As this law takes effect, it will be interesting to observe its impact on voter turnout in the coming years. It will be just as interesting to see if other states in America follow suit to make it easier for young teens to get involved in the political world.