Young people (18-29) have had the lowest voter turnout of any age group since the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971 (See Figure 1). Older groups consistently vote at rates some 20 to 30% above young people.
In the 2020 presidential election, for the first time, slightly more than 50% of young people registered and voted—setting a record for turnout by this age group—despite the pandemic. Two years earlier, in 2018, for the first time, just over 30% of young people voted after decades when youth voting rates hovered around a shocking 20%. Although still low, the 2020 and 2018 rates represent significant improvements. How can this momentum be maintained?
This report—Youth and the Vote—looks at the youth voter turnout in each state in 2020 and profiles some of the groups and activity that are contributing to this encouraging shift. It seeks to identify and share some of the best practices and challenges associated with reaching, registering, and turning out young voters in every state.
By issuing this report, the nonpartisan WNDC Educational Foundation intends to bring attention to creative and committed efforts across the country to encourage greater civic participation by young people. The Foundation hopes that this paper will help spark greater attention and action to promote what works. It builds on an earlier report on youth turnout in the 2018 election.
Why is this important? The benefits of increasing the youth vote are clear. According to Tufts CIRCLE, the preeminent think tank devoted to advancing youth’s civic engagement:
“Voting is a fundamental act of civic participation through which young people contribute to democracy. While it’s just one of many ways that youth engagement can take, it is a powerful way for young people to make their voices heard and to have an impact on issues that affect them and their communities; it can also serve as an entry point to other forms of participation.”
Others note that, when individuals are civically engaged from their youth, they are more likely to vote and participate in other civic activities throughout their lives. Certainly, young people have the most to gain or lose from many issues in front of voters.
With four million young people turning 18 every year, young voters are also critically important because they represent the largest group of potential new voters. Looking to 2022, CIRCLE has already flagged key elections where youth vote could be decisive but also issued a warning that, in many states, registration rates as of June 2022 were lower than in 2018.
Finally, focusing on the youth vote is practical because there are concrete things that individuals and groups can do:
RESOURCES
Figure 1: US Elections Project
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
Campus-wide competitions and campaigns to register & turn out voters
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
National Youth Summit for middle and high school students at Smithsonian Institution.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
Campus-wide competitions and campaigns to register & turn out voters
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote and leadership
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
Campus-wide competitions and campaigns to register & turn out voters
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
State and local efforts to facilitate voting –- despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High School initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
State and local efforts to facilitate voting –- despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Issues of concern motivated young voters
State and local efforts to facilitate voting for young people
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
Issues of concern to young voters
State and local efforts to facilitate voting
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
Student-led campaigns in 2022.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Follow Univ of Iowa VoteHawk.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
School shootings stimulated interest in civic participation.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting –- despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
State and local efforts to facilitate voting
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
State and local efforts to facilitate voting
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
Needham High School chapter of the League of Women Voters registers voters.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
.Focus on issues of concern to young voters
Activism, issues, and influence of Gen Z in Pennsylvania.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
Economic issues, gun violence driving engagement.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Focus on issues of concern to young voters
Voter registration in Missouri spiked after Roe reversal.
State and local efforts to facilitate voting – despite pandemic
State and campus-wide leadership and competition
High school initiatives
NGOs supporting youth vote
Increased emphasis on online communication, social media
Focus on issues of concern to young voters