Illinois Bill Would Bring Early Voting to College Campuses

(Chart- CIRCLE)

In an effort to make voting more accessible for young people, a bill just passed by the House would require public universities in Illinois to have an early voting polling place on campus.

The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Des Plaines, spoke to the importance of drawing young people into voting and elections as a way to create more long-term voters for the state.

"Certainly, getting people when they're young and engaged is a much better predictor of their lifetime involvement," she said. "We are trying this for one election cycle at all the public, four-year institutions to see whether this could be helpful."

Youth turnout in the most recent midterm election cycle (2006) for those aged 18-29 was 25.5%, less than half of the turnout rate for voters older than 30 (53.7%).

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