Youth voting in the United States

United States turnout

In the 2016 United States presidential election, 60.1% of the country’s voting-eligible population (VEP) cast their vote (ElectProject.org). If that number strikes you as startling low, you are not alone. When compared to many other democracies around the world, the United States falls short in this regard. In 2017, France and Germany turned out at rates of 67.9% and 69.1%, respectively. More recently, in 2019, the United Kingdom saw a 62.3% turnout while Australia’s turnout was a spectacular 82.1% (PewResearch.org).

The United States, long considered the leader of the free world by many, has struggled to mobilize and energize much of its VAP over the past couple of decades.

Here is the turnout of the United States’ VAP by presidential election, dating back to 1996:

• 60.1% (2016)
• 58.6% (2012)
• 61.6% (2008)
• 60.1% (2004)
• 54.2% (2000)
• 51.7% (1996)

While this data shows a general increase in voter turnout over the past 20 years, there is still work to be done.

The youth

One population of voters that must do better are youth voters (eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29). Traditionally, these young voters have trailed the age bracket above them (30–44) by roughly 15–20% every year (ElectProject.org). In 2008, when Barack Obama defeated John McCain, youth voters turned out at nearly a 50% clip. But they have never cleared that hurdle in recent decades, usually turning out at around a 40% clip.

Now, in 2020, as potentially the most consequential election in the history of the United States took place almost a week ago, it appears that youth voters dramatically increased in turnout.

According to National Geographic:

“[A] Harvard Youth Poll, a bi-annual poll of Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics published this week… found historic interest in this year’s election. Young Americans are on track to surpass record-setting 2008 youth voting numbers. Among the young respondents to the poll, 63 percent said they will “definitely be voting” compared with 47 percent during the fall of 2016.”

According to CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), it is projected that between 49% and 51% of voting-eligible 18–29-year-olds cast a ballot, as opposed to 42%-44% in 2016 (CIRCLE).

This is certainly a fantastic trend to see, but there is still plenty of work to be done, as youth voters still turnout at a lower rate than the national average.

College students

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The U.S. Higher Education Act obligates colleges and universities to “make a good faith effort” to distribute voter registration forms.” The paper notes that college students as a whole have, “ voted at one of the lowest rates of any group in the United States,” but this could be changing…

• 19% of college-eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2014 midterms
• 40% of college-eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2018 midterms

There is so much untapped potential in the youth vote around the United States. Progress is being made, but turnout is still not good enough. Colleges, universities and every other institution that has the power to help increase youth voter turnout must do so. That includes youth voters themselves.