Massachusetts Senator Warren Wants to Pre-Register Underage Voters

The Democrat United States Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts may have stumbled on a good idea while looking to recruit potential voters for her party.

The Daily Beast reports Warren has filed legislation to allow 16-and-17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Traditionally, young people fail to show up on election day, and Warren's bill could help to boost voter participation amongst the younger set. Young people tend to support more liberal causes.

Warren's legislation would also require colleges and universities to have on-campus polling places. College IDs would become acceptable forms of identification to allow students to register or pre-register to vote.

The Boston Herald reports Warren's legislation is called the "Youth Voting Rights Act." Democrat Rep. Nikema Williams of Georgia filed a version of the legislation in the U.S. House.

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Warren issued a press release upon filing the legislation stating, "Voting is the heartbeat of our democracy."

"Young people are the future of America, and with voting rights under attack across the country, we must do everything we can to ensure they can exercise their right to vote," Warren said in the statement.

Warren's statement concludes, "My new bicameral bill with Congresswoman Williams will ensure young people aren't left out of the voting process, and I'm thrilled to partner with her and my colleagues on this effort."

Under Warren's bill, states would be required to pre-register willing 16-and-17-year-olds and could expand the process to even younger kids.

Warren's legislation calls for a study of voting habits of young people by race and age to see if there are ways to increase participation and encourage young people to become involved in the political process.

All and all, it sounds like a pretty interesting idea, even if I question the good senator's motivation.