The Progressive States Network congratulates NC Republicans for helping to pass a key youth voting “reform” here. 

The bill received bipartisan support and was initiated as H-1260 by
four sponsors, including Rep. Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg), the
youngest Democrat in the General Assembly, and Rep. Justin Burr
(R-Stanly), the youngest Republican, along with Rep. Angela Bryant
(D-Nash) and Rep. Pearl Burris-Floyd (R-Gaston).


Just at the end of the legislative session, North Carolina lawmakers passed a bi-partisan bill that will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote (H 908). 
This will facilitate youth registration at two highly convenient
locations ? in school and at the motor vehicles department when
applying for a driver’s license.  Currently, the majority of voters
register when conducting business at motor vehicle departments, and
this change will extend that option to younger people as well.  And in
doing so it will link in young people’s minds the rite of passage of
getting a driver’s license with that of registering to vote. 

Are progressives supporting youth voter registration and voting in order to strengthen American democracy, not hardly.  They are open and up-front about their political agenda. (Note the urgency regarding the “challenging mid-term election environment.”)

Young Voters, Most Progressive in Generations


Helping engage young people in the political process is without a doubt
a feel-good endeavor.  Evidence of this is the strong bipartisan
support this legislation received, with legislators from both parties
sponsoring the bill.  But progressives should also know that this is a
reform that will redound to our benefit as research shows
that those under 35 (now referred to as ?millenials,? previously known
as the echo-boomers) are the most progressive group since the 1960’s. 
Interestingly, as the baby boomers aged they became more conservative,
but their kids are now substantially more progressive then they were
when they were young.

What this means for progressives is that efforts to engage the youth
electorate is one of the most effective way to bring progressive-minded
voters to the polls.  It is in large part due to the engagement of this
population that President Obama was able to win last November.  And as
progressive state legislators face a challenging mid-term election
environment, keeping young people engaged will be key to cementing
gains made in 2006 and 2008.