[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE GATEWAY TO DEMOCRACY ACT

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                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Gateway to 
Democracy Act, a bill designed to increase young voter registration and 
participation. As we enter another presidential election season we are 
once again reminded that in order for our democracy to function 
properly, people need to exercise their right to vote. Unfortunately, 
young people consistently fail to turn out to the polls on voting day. 
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the 2000 general election only 
45.4 percent of 18 to 24 year olds were registered to vote and only 
32.3 percent voted. The statistics for the 1998 general election were 
even more dismal, as 39.2 percent of such individuals were registered 
and a mere 16.6 percent actually went to the polls.
  Studies have shown that people establish their voting behavior early 
in life. People who start voting between the ages of 18-24 are more 
likely to consistently participate in the election process for the rest 
of their lives. Thus it is in the best interest of the country to make 
it as easy as possible for the youth of our nation to go to the polls 
for the first time.
  Young adults often fail to turn out on their first Election Day 
simply because, for the first time, they realize they have not 
registered to vote. Most states require registration prior to the 
election itself, so that it is too late to establish voter eligibility 
on Election Day. The Gateway to Democracy Act seeks to increase the 
number of young people who are eligible to vote as soon as they reach 
voting age.
  In 1993, we passed The National Voter Registration Act so that people 
could register to vote when they applied for their motor vehicle 
driver's licenses. This law has increased voter registration and 
according to studies appears to increase youth voting. However, many 
states allow individuals to get their licenses years before they meet 
the age requirement for registration, but few states allow registration 
at that time if the person is not eighteen years old. Since 53.7 
percent of seventeen year olds already had their motor vehicle licenses 
in 2002, we missed a valuable opportunity to register more than half of 
the people in that age group.
  The Gateway to Democracy is a very simple idea. If you're 18 or older 
and you apply for a driver's license, you can also register to vote. 
But in most states, if you are under 18, you do not have the same 
opportunity to register to vote at the same time that you apply for a 
drivers license. Thus, a 16 or 17 year old typically must make a second 
trip to register after that person reaches the eligible age to vote. 
Often these young people don't bother to make this second trip until it 
is too late for them to participate in the first election for which 
they are eligible. This bill will allow people who are too young to 
vote to fill out all the paperwork necessary to register to vote when 
they get their drivers license. However, they won't be eligible to go 
to the polls until they reach the legal minimum voting age.
  Some states already have successful pre-registration programs. For 
example, Connecticut, Florida and Maine allow people to pre-register to 
vote at age 17, Georgia, Missouri, and Iowa allow people to pre-
register at age 17 and a half and Hawaii allows people to preregister 
at age 16. These programs prove that pre-registration programs are 
simple and effective.
  The Gateway to Democracy is a commonsense solution to the problem of 
getting young people registered in time for their first election. It 
allows young people to take care of the paperwork ahead of time so that 
they don't have anything standing in their way on Election Day.

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