University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement
@umd-cdce.bsky.social
UMD's Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement educates, informs, and engages citizens and scholars in order to improve democratic governance.
Check out CDCE Director Michael Hanmer's book, Discount Voting: Voter Registration Reforms and their Effects, to read more about the research backing this up!
www.cambridge.org/us/universit...
www.cambridge.org/us/universit...
Discount Voting | Cambridge University Press & Assessment
www.cambridge.org
September 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Check out CDCE Director Michael Hanmer's book, Discount Voting: Voter Registration Reforms and their Effects, to read more about the research backing this up!
www.cambridge.org/us/universit...
www.cambridge.org/us/universit...
To close the 18-year-old registration gap in Maryland:
✅ Strengthen automatic registration at the MVA
✅ Expand AVR beyond the MVA to other agencies
✅ Boost school-based outreach like student election judge programs
Learn more at cdce.substack.com/p/maryland-c....
✅ Strengthen automatic registration at the MVA
✅ Expand AVR beyond the MVA to other agencies
✅ Boost school-based outreach like student election judge programs
Learn more at cdce.substack.com/p/maryland-c....
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
To close the 18-year-old registration gap in Maryland:
✅ Strengthen automatic registration at the MVA
✅ Expand AVR beyond the MVA to other agencies
✅ Boost school-based outreach like student election judge programs
Learn more at cdce.substack.com/p/maryland-c....
✅ Strengthen automatic registration at the MVA
✅ Expand AVR beyond the MVA to other agencies
✅ Boost school-based outreach like student election judge programs
Learn more at cdce.substack.com/p/maryland-c....
Montgomery County offers an additional model:
Voter education and school-based outreach through a student election judge program boosted youth registration rates above what license data would predict.
Voter education and school-based outreach through a student election judge program boosted youth registration rates above what license data would predict.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Montgomery County offers an additional model:
Voter education and school-based outreach through a student election judge program boosted youth registration rates above what license data would predict.
Voter education and school-based outreach through a student election judge program boosted youth registration rates above what license data would predict.
Colorado shows what’s possible.
Small changes to DMV pre-registration can boost rates dramatically. Notifying youth that they aren’t registered boosts rates by 18%, and implementing a default voter registration system boosts them by 29%.
Small changes to DMV pre-registration can boost rates dramatically. Notifying youth that they aren’t registered boosts rates by 18%, and implementing a default voter registration system boosts them by 29%.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Colorado shows what’s possible.
Small changes to DMV pre-registration can boost rates dramatically. Notifying youth that they aren’t registered boosts rates by 18%, and implementing a default voter registration system boosts them by 29%.
Small changes to DMV pre-registration can boost rates dramatically. Notifying youth that they aren’t registered boosts rates by 18%, and implementing a default voter registration system boosts them by 29%.
Right now, 1 in 3 Maryland 18-year-olds is not registered to vote.
Expanding automatic registration and voter education can help close this gap.
Expanding automatic registration and voter education can help close this gap.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Right now, 1 in 3 Maryland 18-year-olds is not registered to vote.
Expanding automatic registration and voter education can help close this gap.
Expanding automatic registration and voter education can help close this gap.
And that same pattern continues at age 18.
Counties with more 18-year-old drivers have higher registration rates.
Counties with more 18-year-old drivers have higher registration rates.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
And that same pattern continues at age 18.
Counties with more 18-year-old drivers have higher registration rates.
Counties with more 18-year-old drivers have higher registration rates.
County-by-county data shows that license attainment among 16- and 17-year-olds strongly correlates with voter pre-registration rates.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
County-by-county data shows that license attainment among 16- and 17-year-olds strongly correlates with voter pre-registration rates.
A major factor is whether young people have a driver’s license.
Driver’s license attainment is correlated with voter registration and pre-registration rates for 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds.
Driver’s license attainment is correlated with voter registration and pre-registration rates for 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A major factor is whether young people have a driver’s license.
Driver’s license attainment is correlated with voter registration and pre-registration rates for 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds.
Driver’s license attainment is correlated with voter registration and pre-registration rates for 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds.
Maryland has relatively strong youth voter registration rates, but that’s not the full story.
Major disparities exist between counties.
Major disparities exist between counties.
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Maryland has relatively strong youth voter registration rates, but that’s not the full story.
Major disparities exist between counties.
Major disparities exist between counties.
The upshot?
Voters are most supportive of #Vote16 for school board elections– especially among certain constituencies.
This support is sufficient to pass and implement Vote 16 policies in many cities and towns.
Read more at vote16.substack.com/p/674-of-new....
Voters are most supportive of #Vote16 for school board elections– especially among certain constituencies.
This support is sufficient to pass and implement Vote 16 policies in many cities and towns.
Read more at vote16.substack.com/p/674-of-new....
August 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The upshot?
Voters are most supportive of #Vote16 for school board elections– especially among certain constituencies.
This support is sufficient to pass and implement Vote 16 policies in many cities and towns.
Read more at vote16.substack.com/p/674-of-new....
Voters are most supportive of #Vote16 for school board elections– especially among certain constituencies.
This support is sufficient to pass and implement Vote 16 policies in many cities and towns.
Read more at vote16.substack.com/p/674-of-new....
In May–June 2025, we worked with the Maryland Democracy Initiative to survey 800 NJ voters to understand support for lowering the voting age.
August 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
In May–June 2025, we worked with the Maryland Democracy Initiative to survey 800 NJ voters to understand support for lowering the voting age.
New Jersey is emerging as a national leader in #Vote16 organizing:
🗣️ Student-led campaigns
✅ Newark passed Vote 16 for school boards
💰 @govmurphy.bsky.social proposed $1M to expand the policy statewide
🗣️ Student-led campaigns
✅ Newark passed Vote 16 for school boards
💰 @govmurphy.bsky.social proposed $1M to expand the policy statewide
August 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
New Jersey is emerging as a national leader in #Vote16 organizing:
🗣️ Student-led campaigns
✅ Newark passed Vote 16 for school boards
💰 @govmurphy.bsky.social proposed $1M to expand the policy statewide
🗣️ Student-led campaigns
✅ Newark passed Vote 16 for school boards
💰 @govmurphy.bsky.social proposed $1M to expand the policy statewide
Finally, Dr. Laird shared that she believes that civic engagement is vital for the stability of our democracy.
And she shared that as a fun fact— she enjoys crocheting!
Thank you, Dr. Laird, for your leadership, scholarship, and impact. ⭐
And she shared that as a fun fact— she enjoys crocheting!
Thank you, Dr. Laird, for your leadership, scholarship, and impact. ⭐
July 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Finally, Dr. Laird shared that she believes that civic engagement is vital for the stability of our democracy.
And she shared that as a fun fact— she enjoys crocheting!
Thank you, Dr. Laird, for your leadership, scholarship, and impact. ⭐
And she shared that as a fun fact— she enjoys crocheting!
Thank you, Dr. Laird, for your leadership, scholarship, and impact. ⭐
The big question driving Dr. Laird’s work is “At what age does someone start to believe in a racial linked fate?”
And her top insight is that “Black girls’ awareness of the political world is exceptional!”
And her top insight is that “Black girls’ awareness of the political world is exceptional!”
July 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The big question driving Dr. Laird’s work is “At what age does someone start to believe in a racial linked fate?”
And her top insight is that “Black girls’ awareness of the political world is exceptional!”
And her top insight is that “Black girls’ awareness of the political world is exceptional!”
Dr. Laird’s research focuses on the political socialization of Black girls. She explores how Black women’s political behavior is shaped in adolescence.
Check out her 2024 report: Hear Our Voices: Black Girl Tribe Politics Survey at cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.u...
Check out her 2024 report: Hear Our Voices: Black Girl Tribe Politics Survey at cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.u...
July 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Dr. Laird’s research focuses on the political socialization of Black girls. She explores how Black women’s political behavior is shaped in adolescence.
Check out her 2024 report: Hear Our Voices: Black Girl Tribe Politics Survey at cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.u...
Check out her 2024 report: Hear Our Voices: Black Girl Tribe Politics Survey at cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.u...