September 16th is National Voter Registration Day, a day dedicated to helping millions of Americans register to vote. For college students, registering can be an important first step toward participating in elections. The Feminist Majority’s Vote for Equality campaign has made significant efforts to increase civic participation among college students.
Voting is a fundamental part of the US democratic system, but young voters can face barriers to registering and casting their ballots. Nearly 50 million people ages 18 to 29 will be eligible to vote in the 2026 midterms. At the same time, legislation such as the SAVE Act has raised concerns about potential barriers to voter registration and access.
While many young voters are college students, only about 48% of eligible young voters have college experience. Young people who are not registered to vote frequently cite logistical barriers including not knowing how to register, missing registration deadlines, or experiencing difficulties with the registration process. These barriers can make it harder for young people to participate, even when they want to vote.
The Feminist Majority’s Vote for Equality campaign seeks to address some of these barriers by educating, mobilizing, and empowering college students around voting. This election cycle, the campaign is organized on 30 campuses across six states with approximately 150 campus organizers. Its slogan, “Vote as if your life depends on it,” encourages students to become civically engaged and participate in elections.
Young people have demonstrated a strong interest in participating in the political process and influencing the issues that affect them. Recent elections have also shown that the youth vote can be the decisive factor of if a candidate wins.
CIRCLE estimates that 50% of young people ages 18 to 29 voted in the 2020 presidential election, one of the highest youth turnout rates in decades. In 2024, an estimated 47% of young people voted, making it one of the five highest youth turnout rates since the voting age was lowered to 18.
The 2022 midterms also demonstrated the importance of youth participation in closely contested elections. Young people made up an important part of the electorate, enabling Democrats to win almost every battleground state and increase their majority in the U.S. Senate.
Jaharra Anglin-Stubbs, a campus coordinator for the 2024 presidential and general elections at Colgate University described her experience as “an introspective and civically vibrant opportunity to be a part of a movement that activates students.”
The impact of campus organizing can also be seen in state and local races. In Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election, approximately 70% of young voters supported Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger. This win was a reflection of the hard work done by campus coordinators and organizers across Virginia.
At Virginia Tech, a Vote for Equality campus organizer, Bianca Blell, described feeling “beaming pride” after students supported Lily Franklin’s successful campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates District 41. Franklin won the race by a narrow 2,223 votes after losing the same seat in 2023. Similar organizing efforts are taking place on major campuses across the US, including George Mason University, which has the largest undergraduate student population in Virginia.
Voting is important, but registration is the first step. Campus organizing and voter registration drives can help young people overcome the logistical barriers that can make participation more difficult. As Election Day approaches, check your registration status and learn more about registering at vote411.org/feminist.