Updates

We’re America’s largest generation, and we’re working for a better future. Here’s our 2019-2020 annual report.

As we approach the final weeks of the fall term, we’re all eager to get back home and celebrate Thanksgiving and have a normal holiday. But unfortunately, that cannot happen this year. According to the COVID Exit Strategy, all but one state is trending poorly, and the country as a whole has seen its highest reports of new cases in the past few weeks.

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.

We set out this fall to show the country that America’s largest generation votes. Based on what we know so far, not only did we show that young people vote, we showed the country that they persevered and overcame challenges to make their voices heard in this unprecedented time in our country.

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.

Happy Election Day! Across the country, young people are making their voices heard and showing up to the polls in huge numbers compared to the 2016 election. I’m so incredibly proud of the work our team has done over the last eight months building a student-powered campaign to make sure that America’s largest generation was heard at the ballot box.

It’s Election Week! The Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project is using the last two days to keep up the unprecedented momentum we’re seeing in youth turnout, with more than 4,500 hours of calling and texting scheduled from our student-led team around the country. I’m back to share an update on our work and an invite to join online Get out the Vote events we’re hosting this week.

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.