DNC Launches Largest-Ever Partisan National Voter Registration Campaign To Mobilize the Next Generation of Democratic Voters Arrow

New seven-figure Investment will drive unprecedented partisan voter registration efforts in key battlegrounds

Kicking off a critical midterm election year, the Democratic National Committee announced the launch of When We Count, a historic, new seven-figure voter registration effort. The When We Count Youth Fellowship will train hundreds of young supporters to register tens of thousands of new voters and close critical voter registration gaps in priority congressional districts. The DNC will bolster these efforts through national weeks of action that scale on-the-ground voter registration efforts directly in communities across the country.

This cycle, the DNC is making voter registration a top strategic priority nationwide, recognizing that partisan efforts are essential to reversing recent registration trends, winning in upcoming cycles, and training the next generation of Democratic organizers on this fundamental organizing skill.

"The midterms are here, and at the DNC, we refuse to let anybody else dictate this election season - we're setting the tone," said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken 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. Our answer is simple: We're going to register voters, train organizers, empower young people, and make sure they have the tools to shape their future. That's what this program is all about."

Strategic Investments

Launching first in Arizona and Nevada with a seven-figure investment, the program will be the DNC's largest-ever voter registration effort focused on building long-term power and ensuring young people and voters of color, especially those who haven't been engaged before, have a meaningful voice in our democracy.

• Voter Targeting: This program is specifically targeting non-college youth - a population that has been historically overlooked by traditional voter registration efforts. Given that nearly 60% of 18-24-year-olds are not enrolled in college, this strategic focus fills a clear gap in the ecosystem and ensures we're registering young supporters where they live and work.
• Geographic & Demographic Focus: This program will launch in battleground congressional districts in Arizona and Nevada, where closing registration gaps could determine control of the House in 2026. These states have fast-growing populations of Latino, Black, and AAPI voters, presenting a critical opportunity to engage and expand the electorate among constituencies we lost ground with in 2024.
• Scale: This is the largest financial investment the DNC has ever made in voter registration. Launching in these first two battleground states will provide the foundation to scale this work and register hundreds of thousands of voters nationally in 2026 and beyond.
• Building the Bench: This program will identify, recruit, and train hundreds of young fellows, who will become the next generation of Democratic Party organizers in future cycles.

Core Programs

When We Count Fellowship: At the heart of the 2026 strategy is the When We Count Fellowship - a paid, part-time fellowship to train young supporters to register Democrats in targeted congressional districts. Fellows will learn how to register their peers, talk to new voters, and build local power through intensive weekly training and support from the DNC National Organizing program. The first cohorts of Fellows will launch in priority Congressional Districts in Arizona and Nevada in the spring of 2026. Across these first two states, the program will train more than 100 fellows, who will register tens of thousands of new voters.

National Weeks of Action: In 2026, the DNC will lead four National Voter Registration Weeks of Action in the spring, summer, and fall, leading up to the midterm elections. These National Weeks of Action will rally When We Count fellows, state parties, coordinated campaigns, college & high school Democrats, and volunteers in a nationwide push to register tens of thousands of new voters. The DNC will support these weeks of action by providing toolkits, training, merchandise, surrogates, and even organizing friendly competitions between states to keep energy high.

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