With the United States midterm elections just a week away, millions of young Americans remain unregistered but still eligible to cast ballots, highlighting a significant gap in voter outreach efforts. Despite extensive campaign spending and targeted mailings to known voters, many first-time eligible voters, particularly those aged 18 to 24, have yet to register and often receive little communication from candidates or parties.

In California alone, nearly 300,000 newly eligible 18-year-olds can still vote by casting provisional ballots on election day. More broadly, voter data indicates that over one million young Californians aged 18-24 who have not registered can still participate in early voting or on election day itself. This phenomenon is not unique to California—22 states and Washington D.C. offer same-day voter registration, allowing eligible voters to register and vote on election day.

Estimates show that around 1.7 million 18-year-olds live in states permitting election day registration, with nearly half of these individuals unregistered as of now. Nationwide, only about 45% of 18-year-olds are registered compared to 82% of those aged 45 and older, suggesting that low registration rates among younger voters stem not from disinterest but rather a lack of outreach and education about voting processes and deadlines.

States with early voting provisions, such as Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, and North Carolina, allow provisional ballots for unregistered voters during early voting periods but not on election day itself. Analyses of voter files from states with election day registration reveal a notable surge in 18-year-old registrants on the final day before the election, underscoring the importance of this policy in increasing youth turnout.

Experts note that young voters often become aware of elections late in the cycle when heavy advertising starts, but early registration deadlines may have already passed. Additionally, their high mobility complicates early registration efforts. Consequently, millions of young voices frequently go unheard every election cycle.

Calls are mounting for increased investment and reform to enhance pathways to voter registration for young Americans, recognizing that fostering the habit of voting early in life contributes to higher civic participation over time. Meanwhile, with election day approaching, advocates urge those in same-day registration states to encourage eligible friends and family members to register and vote immediately, noting that it is not too late to participate in the 2026 midterms.