FairVote - Universal Voter Registration (TX)

Voter Registration in High School

Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman introduced H.B. 2056, a bill to increase voter registration among high school and college students. This legislation would require that every high school designate individuals as deputy voter registrars to register students at least twice during their senior year.

High school is one of the only common experiences enjoyed by all U.S. citizens. As such it provides an excellent opportunity to perform voter registration. A new approach to voter registration is important because despite the large amount of money and time spent by political campaigns, nonpartisan voter registration organizations and elected officials nearly 1 out of every 3 U.S. citizens is not registered to vote. Since most states including Texas require residents to register to be eligible to vote, those who are not registered are effectively shut out of the political process. A concentrated effort to register all graduating high school students and those entering college will lead to clean and complete voter rolls a benefit for state election officials and empower young people become politically involved.

Read HB 2056. Then write a letter to Texas state legislators. A sample letter in (pdf) or in (rtf)

To support this legislation please contact:

        Garnet Coleman
        Capitol Office
        Room CAP GW.17
        P.O. Box 2910
        Austin, TX 78768

        (512) 463-0524
        (512) 463-1260 Fax

or if you a are Texas resident please contact your local state representative.



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	Voter Registration in High School Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman introduced H.B. 2056, a bill to increase voter registration among high school and college students. This legislation would require that every high school designate individuals as deputy voter registrars to register students at least twice during their senior year. High school is one of the only common experiences enjoyed by all U.S. citizens. As such it provides an excellent opportunity to perform voter registration. A new approach to voter registration is important because despite the large amount of money and time spent by political campaigns, nonpartisan voter registration organizations and elected officials nearly 1 out of every 3 U.S. citizens is not registered to vote. Since most states including Texas require residents to register to be eligible to vote, those who are not registered are effectively shut out of the political process. A concentrated effort to register all graduating high school students and those entering college will lead to clean and complete voter rolls a benefit for state election officials and empower young people become politically involved. Read HB 2056. Then write a letter to Texas state legislators. A sample letter in (pdf) or in (rtf) To support this legislation please contact: Garnet Coleman Capitol Office Room CAP GW.17 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 (512) 463-0524 (512) 463-1260 Fax or if you a are Texas resident please contact your local state representative.	Recent Articles October 19th 2009 Mandatory Voting? Automatic Registration? How Un-American! Huffington Post President of Air America Media, Mark Green, explains why Instant Runoff Voting, Automatic Registration and Mandatory Voting are not only important but could lead to a more democratic society. September 30th 2009 Can a 17-year-old register to vote? It depends Ventura County Star "Most Californians register to vote not because a political cause has touched their heart, but rather because they checked a box on a form at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they received or renewed their driver�s license." September 27th 2009 Giving teens a civic voice The Fayetteville Observer In January, North Carolina will become the third state to implement FairVote-endorsed youth preregistration. September 8th 2009 Give voters final say on vacancies Politico The two legislators proposing a constitutional amendment mandating elections to fill Senate vacancies make their case in the pages of Politico.