Republicans Are Targeting The Youth Vote In 2024, But Students Are Fighting Back

Republicans are trying to suppress youth voting access ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

By Rachel Janfaza, Teen Vogue

Recognizing that young voters have recently turned out in high numbers, and in overwhelming support of Democrats, Republicans are ramping up efforts to suppress youth voting access ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

In Idaho, Republican governor Brad Little signed a bill that prohibits students from using a student ID card as a form of voter identification. In Ohio, out-of-state students could be impacted by a new bill that requires voter ID in the form of an unexpired in-state driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID card.

And in Florida, Republican governor Ron DeSantis signed an election omnibus bill into law that restricts third-party voter registration organizations by requiring them to register with the state every election cycle, directly impacting many voter engagement groups that aim to increase youth and student voter participation. The bill also prohibits non-US citizens from “handling” voter registration applications for third-party groups. In July, a federal judge blocked this and another part of the new bill. The same bill also requires first-time voters without a social security number or state ID to vote in person, which voting rights advocates say could pose a challenge for some young voters in the Sunshine State.

Attempts by GOP lawmakers to change election laws come as prominent Republicans denounce on-campus voting options and resources that make voting easier for young people. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that elections lawyer Cleta Mitchell told a roomful of GOP donors that there needs to be tighter parameters around on-campus voting. And 2024 presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has even proposed the idea of raising the voting age to 25 for everyone except those who engage in civil service work or pass a test.