By Gina Yarbrough
The Democratic National Committee has launched a new voter registration initiative this week ahead of the midterm elections this fall.
The “When We Count” initiative will include a seven-figure investment and focus on training young people to register new voters in selected congressional districts.
According to the DNC, the initiative will include the When We Count Youth Fellowship, a paid, part-time program designed to train hundreds of participants in voter registration and grassroots organizing. Fellows will work in their communities to register new voters and address voter registration gaps. The committee also plans to support the effort through nationally coordinated “weeks of action,” which will unite volunteers and affiliated organizations for in-person voter registration drives.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the committee is placing renewed emphasis on voter registration as part of its broader midterm strategy, citing interest among young people in becoming more involved in the political process. He said the initiative is intended to expand voter engagement and provide organizing experience for future political activists.
“The midterms are here, and at the DNC, we refuse to let anybody else dictate this election season — we’re setting the tone,” said Martin. “Everywhere I go, young people tell me they want to be involved, want their voices heard, and want leaders who actually show up for them when it counts. When I ran for Chair, I made it clear that voter registration must once again be a top priority for the DNC. And while Republicans are doing everything they can to silence young voters, voters of color, and working families, we’re getting to work.”
The program will launch in Arizona and Nevada, where the DNC says it is making its largest-ever financial investment in voter registration. The committee stated that these states were selected due to competitive congressional districts and growing populations of Latino, Black, Asian American, and Pacific Islander voters.
As part of its targeting strategy, the DNC said the program will focus on non-college youth, noting that a majority of people ages 18 to 24 are not enrolled in higher education and are often less reached by traditional voter registration efforts. The committee said the goal is to expand outreach to young people in workplaces and community settings.
The DNC described the effort as a long-term investment, with plans to scale the program beyond the initial states in future election cycles. The committee stated that it aims to register hundreds of thousands of voters nationwide in 2026 and beyond.
In addition to the fellowship, the DNC plans to organize four national voter registration weeks of action throughout the year. These events will involve state Democratic parties, coordinated campaigns, student groups, and volunteers, with support from the national committee in the form of training materials and organizing resources.
The first cohorts of When We Count fellows are scheduled to begin work in targeted congressional districts in Arizona and Nevada this spring.
