Youth voter registration lags in Texas – how high schools and parents can help turn it around.

As the date approaches for the November election, eyes are on how or if young voters will turn out and who they’re voting for. Texas high schools are required by state law to distribute voter forms to older students twice a year, as well as having a designated volunteer deputy registrar on campus. However, lacking an enforcement mechanism, most schools simply don’t. As a result, most high school students go without registering prior to graduation, leaving them unable to vote whenever the election cycle commences. Recent reporting by the San Antonio Express-News asks the following question: why has Texas youth voter registration actually declined  despite the aforementioned requirement of our high schools? 

As of summer 2026, only 45% of 18-year olds nationally are registered to vote, a number that has thankfully seen a 4-point increase from the spring. Texas is notorious for being one of the hardest states to register to vote in, and the lack of opportunities to register compounds this difficulty. Young people in the state cannot legally register until they are 17 years old and ten months, meaning high schools are well-positioned to make sure new generations of voters are enfranchised. But a study conducted by The University of Houston shows that only 25% of Texas high schools are complying with laws that require them to provide student with voter registration opportunities.  

But even when younger individuals are registered to vote, few end up turning out. Voting is a habit-formed task, and high schools have the responsibility of ensuring that students are learning to be active citizens. To help boost civic engagement, Texas needs to do more to empower high schools to provide students with the ability to be registered   

Parents and guardians have the ability to help their of-age, would-be voters: voter registration drives are happening now all over the state and most public library systems offer voter registration. As a reminder, there is no online voter registration in Texas. Most online forms will simply send you a form through the mail that you have to finish and mail yourself. It is almost certainly too close to the October 5 voter registration deadline to count on that. 

You can check your voter registration and find your county registrar’s office here. If we believe young people are the future (and we do), let’s make sure they’re empowered to make their voice heard at the ballot box this November.