Washington, DC: To kick off National Voter Registration Week of Action today, When We All Vote released findings from Pass the Mic to Gen Z’s pilot year so far. More than 50,000 Gen Zers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. participated in Pass the Mic to Gen Z’s listening tour, naming cost of living, immigration, healthcare, racism and reproductive rights as their top issue priorities. Cost of living and inflation remains the number one issue for Gen Z, consistent with When We All Vote’s national research survey released in April in partnership with CIRCLE. During the listening tour, Black Gen Zers named racism as their top issue, while Latino Gen Zers named immigration as their top priority.
These findings come as When We All Vote is getting voters registered and ready to vote during National Voter Registration Week of Action, connecting voters’ top issues to what is on their ballots in nearly 80,000 elections across the country this fall.
“This summer, we heard directly from more than 50,000 young voters about the economy, cost of living and the other issues impacting their lives most. Gen Z took the mic, and now, we’re taking the momentum from this summer’s listening tour into National Voter Registration Week of Action to remind the 50 million eligible young voters that the issues they care about most are on the ballot. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, our votes and our voices do have power, and the next step to using it is getting our communities registered and ready to vote,” said When We All Vote Senior Advisor Kalisha Dessources Figures.
Pass the Mic to Gen Z is a long-term effort focused on authentically listening to young people and creating paths to civic engagement, voter education and mobilization grounded in what they care about most. After the program launched in April, the listening tour heard from young voters this summer at campus pop-ups at North Carolina A&T University and University of Houston with Serena Page; sports events like NBA Summer League and Fanatics Fest; fashion moments like Teen Vogue Fest with new Co-Chair Marsai Martin; digital engagements like sweepstakes around the FIFA World Cup and Lollapalooza; partner events; and more. Learnings will shape Pass the Mic to Gen Z’s programming in 2027.
This year, National Voter Registration Week of Action, National Voter Registration Day and National Black Voter Day come amid increased attacks on the right to vote, including the weakening of the Voting Rights Act, the removal of early voting sites from college campuses, attempts to silence Black and Latino voices through racial gerrymandering and redistricting across the country and threats to mail-in ballot access.
When We All Vote is meeting Americans where they are through key partnerships to make sure voters have the information and resources to make their voices heard, including:
- Collaborations with media partners like FEMINIST, Baller Alert, AfroTech and more
- Voter registration with brands like Clare V, The Ordinary, Mother Tongue and more
- 100% of proceeds from Experiment Beauty’s Hot + Smart Hat will be donated to When We All Vote on National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 15
- Community events with Count US IN throughout the week
- Voter registration drives with organizations like the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.
- Celebrating National Black Voter Day with BET on Friday, September 18
Voters can check their voter registration status, register to vote, make a plan to vote and more through When We All Vote’s Voter Resources Hub.
Press interested in a full calendar of events for National Registration Week of Action or in speaking with Kalisha Dessources Figures should reach out to [email protected].
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ABOUT When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan initiative where young people — especially Black and Brown voters ages 18–34 — not only participate in our democracy, but shape it. We are on a mission to increase participation in every election, close the race and age voting gap, and change the culture around voting.
Michelle Obama founded When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Marsai Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Victoria Monét, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Jayson Tatum, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson. When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4).
ABOUT Civic Nation:
Civic Nation is an impact hub for ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen civic culture, power, and participation. Rooted in purpose and powered by people, Civic Nation brings together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, brands, and influencers to take on the biggest issues of our time. Civic Nation is home to five national initiatives: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.