Voter Registration
Foster youth votes are #FosterYouthVoices.
At NFYI, eligible members, staff, and volunteers are encouraged to register to vote and to cast a ballot in every election.
In 2020, the United States saw a record number of voters engaging in the election. Tufts University estimates that more than 50 percent of eligible voters between 18 and 29 cast a ballot, having a significant impact on election results. As youth turnout increases and their election power grows, we must make sure that current and former foster youth have as many civic engagement opportunities as their peers.
Additionally, NFYI joins organizers across the country in speaking out about legislation aimed at disenfranchising voters. Strict voter ID rules and complex voter registration regulations create barriers to voting for unhoused youth and those who may not have access to their records and paperwork. And limiting polling places and access to vote-by-mail disproportionately impacts voters in low-income and communities of color, which are overrepresented in foster care.
NFYI IN ACTION
True foster power doesn’t begin with scheduling a meeting with a member of Congress. It starts in the ballot box when we elect decision makers who are strong community partners and have a commitment to improving the lives of children and young adults.
Read more:
Resources for Transition Age Youth
Your voice matters. Help us make a change.
