Vote.org Reports Big Spikes in Voter Registrations in Key States Across the Country, Among Younger Voters

Vote.org, the leading nonpartisan online voter registration and engagement organization, released the following statement and data following results in key 2023 elections from coast to coast.In states with key elections – including Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia – more voters registered to vote than the last comparable election in 2021. Those results are even more stark among voters under the age of 35.

Ahead of the 2024 election, Vote.org has pledged to register 8 million voters.

For the 2023 Election cycle, voters have used Vote.org’s tools hundreds of thousands of times, including helping 279,400 voters register and 537,300 voters verify their registrations. Compared to October of 2021, in October 2023, Vote.org helped to generate a 146.1% increase in voter registrations and a 129.3% increase in registration verifications.

Among younger voters (under 35), Vote.org has seen a drastic increase in engagement. Compared to October 2021, Vote.org drove a 251.6% increase in registrations among young voters in October 2023. For registration verifications, there’s been a 142% increase over the same timeframe.

Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org:

“There is no such thing as an ‘off year’ when it comes to democracy. In the states with the most highly watched elections in 2023, Vote.org drove massive growth in registrations, registration verifications and uses of the organization’s ‘See What’s On My Ballot Tool,’ – the last of which came with a little help from Taylor Swift.

One thing is clear: Americans are voting every single chance they get. And they’re voting to protect, defend and build a healthy democracy for all Americans. This is even more crucial as we head into a high-profile presidential election in 2024. And, younger voters continue to be engaged and participating in our democracy at stunning rates.

Registrations were up across the board, including in key states such as Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. And after Taylor Swift posted an Instagram Story yesterday driving her 275 million followers to Vote.org’s ballot tool, more than 70,000 voters used that tool to see what candidates and issues would be on their ballot when they arrived at their polling place. 68% of those voters were under 35. This type of engagement is huge in an odd-numbered year, providing us with ample data to show that voters are dialed in and ready for 2024.

Now, Vote.org is building on this growth and doubling down on our proven GOTV programs, youth outreach and influencer engagement into 2024, and is working diligently to engage, turn out and re-engage voters across the country. Voters want to participate in democracy. Voters want to shape their future. At Vote.org, we’ll be here to help them every step of the way, and we can’t wait to make history yet again next year.”

The following are total uses of Vote.org’s register and verify tools for the 2023 election cycle, which help voters register to vote and verify their registrations, respectively. Below each total is the percentage change from the 2021 election cycle, the last comparable election year.

2023 Election Cycle Tool Usage on Vote.org, Comparisons to 2021 Cycle

• 4,800 registrations in Kentucky, 71% of those were from voters under 35

  • 579% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 19,000 verifications in Kentucky, 46% of those were from voters under 35

  • 1102% increase in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

• 18,000 registrations in Ohio, 78% of those were from voters under 35

  • 371% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 69,000 verifications in Ohio, 56% of those were from voters under 35

  • 321% increase in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

• 12,000 registrations in Pennsylvania, 82% of those were from voters under 35

  • 212% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 27,000 verifications in Pennsylvania, 44% of those were from voters under 35

  • 112% increase in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

• 36,000 registrations in Texas, 81% of those were from voters under 35

  • 351% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 69,000 verifications in Texas, 48% of those were from voters under 35

  • 137% increase in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

• 11,000 registrations in Virginia, 84% of those were from voters under 35

  • 53% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 26,000 verifications in Virginia, 51% of those were from voters under 35

  • -3% decrease in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

“See What’s On My Ballot” Tool

• On Tuesday at around 8:15 a.m. ET, Taylor Swift posted an Instagram Story to her 275 million followers encouraging people to get out and vote and prepare ahead of time by using Vote.org’s “See What’s On My Ballot” tool. Once voters select their ballot choices, they can opt to receive an emailed version of their choices, which they can even take with them to their polling place or use as they fill out their mail-in ballot.

• From 8:15 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. ET on November 7, more than 70,000 voters used Vote.org’s “See What’s On My Ballot” tool, which allows voters to preview what will be on the ballot that they encounter when they vote at their polling place or by mail.

• The highest volume of ballot tool usage comes from Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, each of which have elections today.In total, 68% of users were voters under the age of 35.

• Below is a state breakdown:

  • Kentucky- 2,100, 77% of those were from voters under 35
  • Ohio- 4,600, 74% of those were from voters under 35
  • Pennsylvania- 6,300, 70% of those were from voters under 35
  • Texas- 14,000, 69% of those were from voters under 35
  • Virginia- 6,100, 73% of those were from voters under 35

Vote.org had 442,000 total visits to its website on Election Day, November 7, 2023. Among those visits, the following traffic came from key states:

• 10,000 in Kentucky
• 25,000 in Ohio
• 23,000 in Pennsylvania
• 69,000 in Texas
• 28,000 in Virginia

Referenda Enthusiasm in Ohio and Texas

In Ohio and Texas, voters headed to the polls to vote on high-profile referenda, including abortion and marijuana legalization in Ohio and on the powers granted to the legislature and taxation policies in Texas. Vote.org saw massive enthusiasm in those two states in the final days of the election cycle, as compared to previous, comparable election years.

• In Ohio, youth registrations have spiked by more than 1300% this October as compared to October 2021.
• In Texas, youth registrations have spiked by more than 1600% this October as compared to October 2021.

Throughout 2023, Vote.org sent more than 24,023,000 election reminders to voters to help them understand how, where, and when to vote.