Article Type: Press Release

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has wasted no time in following through on several campaign promises related to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. 

The recently passed bill to fund the government for FY21 addresses some of the challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that face students and higher education institutions, but does not resolve many other problems.

The Student PIRGs, Environment America Research & Policy Center, U.S. PIRG Education Fund, and other nonprofits launched a campaign alongside national partners on Tuesday calling on Whole Foods to change its practices on plastic packaging. The group’s decision comes after the supermarket chain received an “F” for its policies on single-use plastic packaging.

New data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) estimates that the percentage of all eligible young voters, ages 18-29, who cast a ballot in 2016 may increase between 5 to 10 percentage points in 2020. CIRCLE estimates based on votes counted as of November 6, suggest that 49%-51% of voting-eligible young people, ages 18-29, cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election.

The Student PIRGs New Voters Project, one of the country’s oldest and largest youth-led voter mobilization efforts, played a role in increased youth voter rates during the 2020 election. New data shows increases in the youth share of all votes cast in a number of key states. The preliminary surveys show that the youth vote share increased nationally from 16 percent in 2016 to 17 percent in 2020. 

Preliminary reports from the Florida country registrars’ websites show an increase in voter turnout rate in student-heavy precincts. Florida PIRGs’ New Voters Project, one of the country’s oldest and largest youth-led voter mobilization efforts, ran massive get-out-the-vote volunteer actions in the final weeks leading up to the election.

In the past two week, the Student PIRGs New Voters Project, one of the country’s oldest and largest youth-led voter mobilization efforts, has reached more than 750,000 young people by organizing virtual Phone-a-thon events as part of a coordinated effort to help register and turn out students.

The Student PIRGs New Voters Project, one of the country’s oldest and largest youth-led voter mobilization efforts, has been working in 17 states to register and mobilize students to vote. 

Between Saturday and Election Day, the Student PIRGs New Voters Project will host get-out-the-vote virtual events with hundreds of volunteers.

DENVER — The Student PIRGs New Voters Project joined more than 2,500 partners across the country on Saturday to celebrate National Vote Early Day, the first civic holiday to help Americans take advantage of their options to vote early in their state. Over 300 students called and texted thousands of their peers to help them make plans to vote. Dozens of student organizations, community groups, and faculty joined the massive outreach effort. Supporting first time voters navigate the process in their state is critical in helping ensure they turn out.

Nationwide — The NAACP, the nation’s largest and most highly recognized civil rights organization, and the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project, one of the country’s oldest and largest youth-led voter mobilization efforts, announced the last push of their youth get out the vote campaign Monday in Florida. In addition to working together, the Student PIRGs are providing the NAACP a grant to help expand the scope of the project during this crucial election.