Our Students Support the For The People Act, and We as Professors, Support Them
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Dear Members of the United States Senate,
As college professors who consider our teaching mission to include preparing the next generation for responsible democratic citizenship, we write to voice our support for the For The People Act (H.R.1 / S.1, hereafter S.1), which will directly benefit the civic education and engagement of young voters.
In recent years, young voters between the ages of 18 and 30 have demonstrated a higher level of democratic engagement than any generation during their youth in at least a century. In 2020, turnout among young voters (18-29) is estimated to have been 50%, an increase of eleven percentage points since 2016. This brought the gap between the youth turnout rate and the overall national rate to within ten percentage points, the lowest gap ever recorded in the United States.
This trend toward greater participation by youth is beneficial for many reasons. It ensures representation of their views and interests regardless of their party affiliation. It can also have a positive long-term impact on the community as young people develop a civic ethos that can lead to personally and socially responsible behavior. Further, participation by youth becomes a lifelong habit, fosters attachment to democratic institutions, and leads to other forms of responsible civic engagement. Evidence of the latter can be found in trends in youth public service that have coincided with increased youth voting rates. For example, Americans under 30 are running for office and signing up to serve as poll workers in record numbers. All of this bodes well for the future of American democracy. The more that youth see themselves in the democratic political system, the more they will work to preserve it.
Unfortunately, a wave of new state election bills introduced in 2021 threatens to slow and even reverse these positive trends in youth democratic engagement. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 361 state bills were proposed in 2021 that would make the process of voting more difficult. Bills would, for example, make voter registration less convenient, impose strict voter ID requirements, reduce options for early in-person voting, and reduce eligibility and/or opportunities for absentee voting. These types of restrictive policies make it more difficult to vote in general, but obstacles to voting tend to hit young and new voters the hardest.
In stark contrast to these state bills, S.1 would safeguard the ability for young people to vote and would likely promote a continuance of the positive trends in participation noted above.
- Early and Absentee Voting. S.1’s provisions guaranteeing early voting and no-excuse absentee voting will reduce voting costs and therefore likely increaseturnout across the board, especially among the youth and other relatively low-resourced voters.
- Voter Registration. Difficulty navigating the process of registering to vote is a leading cause of lower turnout by new voters such as youth, and registrationprocedures are among the greatest sources of difficulty and confusion for voters. Fortunately, much research demonstrates that simplifying the registrationprocess through measures such as same-day voter registration and online registration (both of which would be required under S.1) significantly increasevoter turnout. Indeed, online registration has been shown to be particularly beneficial for the youth vote.
- Pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds. Also advantageous are state laws that allow minors to register prior to reaching voting age. Political scientistshave shown that such pre-registration laws increase youth voter turnout when they are eligible to vote.
We thus strongly endorse S.1’s registration modernization provisions, including automatic registration, same-day registration, online registration, pre-registration, and voter registration programming in high schools.
A recent analysis by Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement underscores just how much impact the election law reforms proposed by S.1 could have on youth voter turnout. Looking closely at state election laws across the country, they identified states that already have a majority of the electoral policies proposed by S.1 and states that have only a few of the policies. They found that youth turnout is 53% in states with four or more of the S.1 policies and only 43% in states with fewer than four of the policies.
Today’s young voters need the opportunity to thrive not only now, but throughout their lives, as active participants in American constitutional democracy. S.1 will protect the youth vote and empower young voters to make their voices heard. We, the undersigned faculty, urge the Senate to pass S.1 immediately and promote a healthier democracy now and for the future.
Signatories:
1. Dean, College of Social Sciences Peggy James, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
2. Senior Lecturer Michael Evans, Georgia State University
3. Professor Jennifer Collins, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
4. Associate Professor Laura Lovett, University of Pittsburgh
5. Professor Emeritus Lani Roberts, Oregon State University
6. Professor Chad Alan Goldberg, University of Wisconsin-Madison
7. Assistant Professor Jodi Benenson, University of Nebraska Omaha
8. Professor Liz Roemer, University of Massachusetts Boston
9. Emeritus Professor of Political Sci Theodore Arrington, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
10. Adjunct Faculty Jennifer Cossyleon, Georgetown University
11. Emerita Professor of Public Health Sally Guttmacher, New York University
12. Professor Sara Curran, University of Washington
13. Instructor Amy Eisner, Maryland Institute College of Art
14. Professor Nathan Andersen, Eckerd College
15. Associate Professor Matthew Baggetta, Indiana University
16. Associate Professor Amy Chazkel, Columbia University
17. Professor Emeritus Robert Entenmann, St. Olaf College
18. Davis & Davis Chair in Law Peter Shane, The Ohio State University
19.Associate Professor of Sociology Joan Mandle, Colgate University
20. Associate Professor Andrew Bloeser, Allegheny College
21. Associate Professor Heather Cook, Wagner College
22. Associate Professor Daniel Kreiss, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
23. Professor Natasha Warikoo, Tufts University
24. Professor of Sociology and Religion Paul Lichterman, University of Southern California
25. Professor of History Van Gosse, Franklin & Marshall College
26. Professor and Director Jennie Stephens, Northeastern University School of Public Policy and Urban Areas
27. Professor Marc Becker, Truman State University
28. Associate Professor Mark Axelrod, Michigan State University
29. Professor Melissa Lane, Princeton University
30. Assistant Professor Kate Pride Brown, Georgia Institute of Technology
31. Graduate Instructor Tangier Davis, University of Michigan
32. Associate Professor Joan Maya Mazelis, Rutgers University-Carlton
33. Associate Professor Leena Dallasheh, Humboldt State University
34. Dean Alan Solomont, Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University
35. Professor of Anthropology Celeste Gagnon, Wagner College
36. Professor Rebecca Sager, Loyola Marymount University
37. Professor of Political Science Michael Latner, California Polytechnic State University
38. Associate Professor of Sociology Caroline Lee, Lafayette College
39. Graduate Instructor Jonathan Spiegler, Michigan State University
40. Professor Christopher Witko, Pennsylvania State University
41. Professor Kathleen Knight-Abowitz, Miami University
42. Visiting Professor Robert Brulle, Brown University
43. Dr. Christine Harker, Truman State University
44. Chair and Professor of Sociology Mikaila Arthur, Rhode Island College
45. Associate Professor Arlen Moller, Illinois Institute of Technology
46. Postdoctoral Fellow Sara Chadwick, University of Central Florida
47. Instructor Eliot Parker, University of Mississippi
48. Professor Nancy LoPatin-Lummis, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
49. Senior Lecturer Marshall Ganz, Harvard University
50. Professor Becky Mansfield, Ohio State University
51. Lecturer Sarah James, Harvard University
52. Professor Emeritus Guy Aronoff, Humboldt State University
53. Assistant Professor Na Youn Lee, University of Mississippi
54. Associate Professor Joanna Csete, Columbia University
55. Instructor Jill Dunlap, DePaul University
56. Hull Professor of Feminist Studies Eileen Boris, University of California Santa Barbara
57. Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
58. Professor Barbara Wien, American University
59. Professor of Practice James Scheibel, Hamline University
60. Professor Anne-Marie Nunez, Ohio State University
61. Dr. Margaret Power, Illinois Technical College
62. Professor Emeritus Fred Evans, Duquesne University
63. Associate Professor Charles Hankla, Georgia State University
64. Associate Professor Timothy Shaffer, Kansas State University
65. Associate Professor of Anthropology Wendi Haugh, St. Lawrence University
66. Professor of Public Policy Kristin Goss, Duke University
67. Professor of Political Science Robert Boatright, Clark University
68. Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Amanda Clark, Kent State University
69. Assistant Professor Demetri Morgan, Loyola University Chicago
70. Assistant Professor Crystal Harris, Governors State University
71. Associate Professor Gunther Peck, Duke University
72. Professor Arthur Caplan, New York University School of Medicine
73. Assistant Professor Paasha Mahdavi, University of California-Santa Barbara
74. Assistant Professor Joel Malin, Miami University
75. Associate Professor Robert Glover, University of Maine
76. Professor of Communication Leonard Steinhorn, American University
77. Associate Professor Kim Reimann, Georgia State University
78. Professor Alison McCartney, Towson University
79. Adjunct Lecturer Erin Mysogland, Pace University
80. Research Lead Modernizing Congress Lorelei Kelly, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University
81. Professor Ron Hayduk, San Francisco State University
82. Assistant Professor Christopher Ojeda, University of Tennessee
83. Professor Emerita Pamela Oliver, University of Wisconsin - Madison
84. Professor Emeritus William Plater, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
85. Professor Martha Howell, Columbia University
86. Professor Laura Morowitz, Wagner College
87. Professor of History Emerita Mary Nolan, New York University
88. Professor of Philosophy Kevin S. Decker, Eastern Washington University
89. Professor of Political Science Rogers M. Smith, University of Pennsylvania
90. Director Karen Kedrowski, Iowa State University
91. Professor of English Studies Ben Railton, Fitchburg State University
92. Associate Professor Eric Weber, University of Kentucky
93. Resident Assistant Takiesha Mckinney, Governors State University
94. Adjunct Assistant Professor Meredith Sadin, University of California-Berkeley
95. Professor of History Peter Kuznick, American University
96. Professor Estelle Freedman, Stanford University
97. Associate Professor Andrea Benjamin, University of Oklahoma
98. Dr. Leah Horowitz, University of Wisconsin-Madison
99. Vice Chair of Civic Engagement, Carah Whaley, American Political Science Association
100. Associate Professor Giesela Grumback, Governors State University
101. Associate Professor, Stella Rouse, University of Maryland
102. Associate Professor of Sociology Jessica Goodkind, University of New Mexico
103. Director of Impact at the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education Adam Gismondi, Tufts University
104. Professor David Palumbo-Liu, Stanford University
105. Associate Professor Patricia Gott, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
106. Assistant Professor Mark Sentesy, Pennsylvania State University
107. Professor Dara Strolovitch, Princeton University
108. Associate Professor of Political Science Abigail Williamson, Trinity College
109. Professor Emerita Irene Silverblatt, Duke University
110. Associate Dean of Tisch College Peter Levine, Tufts University
111. Professor Rebecca Stephens, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
112. Associate Professor Ernesto Castaneda, American University
113. Professor Emeritus Richard Gunther, Ohio State University
114. Dr./Assoc. Professor Bernadette Ludwig, Wagner College
115. Associate Professor Karen Kurczynski, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
116. Ms. Geri Loizzo
117. Associate Research Professor Elizabeth Matto, Rutgers University
118. Professor of History Prasannan Parthasarathi, Boston College
119. Professor Ann Hurley, Wagner College
120. Assistant Professor of Political Science Connie Jorgensen, Piedmont Virginia Community College
121. Senior Lecturer Mark Sanders, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
122. Dean and Professor Timothy Eatman, Rutgers University - Newark
123. Professor Todd Swanstrom, University of Missouri–St. Louis
124. Schumann Distinguished Scholar Bill McKibben, Middlebury
125. Associate Professor Peter Trachtenberg, University of Pittsburgh
126. Vilas Distinguished Professor Lewis Friedland, University of Wisconsin-Madison
127. Assistant Professor Jesus Tirado, Auburn University
128. Assistant Professor of Psychology Benjamin Blankenship, James Madison University
129. Professor Jeffrey Kraus, Wagner College
130. Assistant Director Sidiq Soulemana, Wagner College
131. Assistant Professor Erhardt Graeff, Olin College of Engineering
132. Associate Professor David Karpf, George Washington University
133. Associate Professor Jean Beaman, University of California, Santa Barbara
134. Dana Professor of Economics Peter Matthews, Middlebury College
135. Associate Professor Nicole Peterson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
136. President Emeritus and University Professor Robert Scott, Adelphi University
137. Professor John Saltmarsh, University of Massachusetts Boston
138. Associate Professor Brian McCabe, Georgetown University
139. Instructor Matthew Woodruff, Emory University
140. Adjunct Lecturer Rev. James L. Swarts, State University of New York College at Geneseo
141. Professor Jan Nespor, Ohio State University
142. Associate Professor Rosalyn Negron, University of Massachusetts Boston
143. Cowles Professor Joe Soss, University of Minnesota
144. Associate Professor Benjamin McKean, Ohio State University
145. Assistant Professor of Urban Studies Prentiss Dantzler, Georgia State University
146. Associate Professor Sarah Quinn, University of Washington
147. Professor Matthew Mayhew, Ohio State University
148. Professor of Political Science Suzanne Chod, North Central College
149. Dr. Teri Platt, Clark Atlanta University
150. Assistant Professor of Sociology Michael Rosino, Molloy College
151. Assistant Professor Zachary Wood, Seattle University
152. Professor (emeritus) Rick Doner, Emory University
153. Professor Carolyn Betensky, University of Rhode Island
154. Director, Human Rights Institute Lauretta Farrell, Kean University
155. Associate Professor Ashley Nickels, Kent State University
156. PhD Candidate Charlotte Hill, University of California Berkeley
157. Professor Emeritus Tracy Lightcap, LaGrange College
158. Professor Cathyann Tully, Wagner College
159. Chair Department of Political Science Soji Akomolafe, Norfolk State University
160. Professor Emeritus of Political Science Barry Ames, University of Pittsburgh
161. Assistant Professor Shannon McGregor, University of North Carolina
162. Associate Professor Jennifer Greenfield, University of Denver
163. Director of Experiential Learning Stephanie Stokamer, Pacific University
164. Professor John Hammond, City University of New York
165. Professor Michael Peshkin, Northwestern University
166. Professor Scott Greer, University of Michigan
167. Professor Emeritus Dick Bennett, University of Arkansas
168. Postdoctoral Fellow Richard Canevez, University of Hawaii at Manoa
169. Assistant Professor Christina Barsky, University of Montana
170. Associate Professor Jennifer Victor, George Mason University
171. Associate Professor Michael Owens, Emory University
172. Associate Professor Sandy Figueroa, Hostos Community College (CUNY)
173. Associate Professor Laura Gawlinski, Loyola University Chicago
174. Professor of History Daniel Mandell, Truman State University
175. Teaching Professor Sarah Stiles, Georgetown University
176. Associate Professor Theresa McCarthy, Wagner College
177. Associate Professor Brian Beabout, The University of New Orleans
178. Clinical Professor Rafael Pelayo, Stanford University
179. Professor Cathy Schneider, American University
180. Lecturer Linda Degutis, Yale University
181. Assistant Professor of History Mikael Wolfe, Stanford University
182. Redistricting Researcher Peter Miller, Brennan Center for Justice
183. Dean of Arts & Sciences Melissa Michelson, Menlo College
184. Assistant Professor Thessalia Merivaki, Mississippi State University
185. Professor of Political Science Celina Su, City University of New York
186. Professor Robert Cliver, Humboldt State University
187. Associate Professor of Sociology Van Tran, CUNY-Graduate Center
188. Professor Jonathan Petropoulos, Claremont McKenna College
189. Lecturer Jamie Lombardi, Bergen Community College
190. Associate Professor Lisa Torrey, St. Lawrence University
191. Professor Emeritus Joseph Wood, University of Baltimore
192. Professor of Political Science Laurie Rice, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
193. Associate Professor Felicia Steele, College of New Jersey
194. Adjunct Professor Jerise Fogel, Montclair State University
195. Adjunct Instructor Alan Hoffner, Wagner College
196. Distinguished Professor of Sociology Barbara Risman, University of Illinois at Chicago
197. Associate Research Professor Keith Bentele, University of Arizona
198. Dr. Mary Painter, University of Missouri-St. Louis
199. Professor Michele Foster, University of Louisville
200. Graduate Student Emily Libecap, University of Kentucky
201. Dr. Peggy Biga, University of Alabama at Birmingham
202. Mr. Sait Sarr, University of Louisville
203. Professor of Political Science Dewey Clayton, University of Louisville
204. Research Professor of Medicine Joe Feinglass, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
205. Professor Leigh Raymond, Purdue University
206. Associate Professor Mary Thomas, University of Louisville
207. Associate Professor of Public Policy Deondra Rose, Duke University