Broadening Youth Voting

Voter Turnout

While youth (ages 18-29) continue to vote at lower rates than older Americans, recent election cycles have provided reasons for optimism—and shown that candidates and campaigns ignore young people at their peril:

• 2024: We estimate that 47% of young people voted in the 2024 presidential election, a slight drop from the 2020 election (50%) but still one of the top-five highest youth turnout rates since the voting age was lowered to 18. Read more
• 2022: 23% of young people voted in the most recent election, a slightly drop from the historic 2018 cycle but the second-highest youth turnout rate for a midterm in the past 30 years. Read more
• 2020: 50% of young people cast a ballot, one of the highest youth turnout rates in decades. Read more
• 2018: 28% of young people voted in the midterms, the highest youth turnout for a midterm cycle in decades and more than doubling the record-low 13% youth turnout in 2014. Read more

The estimates above are from CIRCLE analysis of voter file data in recent elections. Estimates based on the Census data in the chart below produce slightly different data but allow us to examine the historical trend over the past 50 years.

There has been a consequential but relatively recent shift in youth vote choice. In decades past, young people split their votes somewhat evenly between Democrats and Republicans: as recently as 1988, Republican George H.W. Bush won the youth vote on his way to winning the presidency, and as recently as 2002 the national youth vote choice for House candidates was roughly 50-50. From 2008-2020, the partisan gap widened considerably before narrowing again in 2024.

• 2024: Young voters preferred Kamala Harris to Donald Trump, but by a smaller margin than youth support for Democrats in recent elections. Read more
• 2022: Nationally, young voters supported House Democrats by 26 points. Read more
• 2020: President Biden "won" the youth vote by 25 points, and young voters supported House Democrats by 26 points. Read more
• 2018: Nationally, young voters supported House Democrats by an extraordinary 35-point margin. Read more

It's well-understood that the identities, background, and experiences (such as race/ethnicity, gender, and educational attainment) of young people often correlate with their vote choice, a pattern that is common across all age groups. What often receives less attention is that they also influence whether youth register and vote. In particular, youth of color and youth outside of institutions like higher education are more likely to face barriers to voting and other forms of civic participation:

• By Race: In 2024, we estimate that 55% of white youth cast a ballot, compared to 43% of Asian youth, 34% of Black youth, and 32% of Latino youth
• By Gender: In 2024, as in other recent elections, young women (50%) voted at a higher rate than young men (41%)
• By Age Group: Youth who are newly eligible to vote often do so at a lower rate. In 2022, we estimate turnout of youth ages 18-19 was 41%, compared to 47% among all youth under age 30.
• By State/Region: The competitiveness of elections, voting and registration policies, and other local and statewide factors shape electoral participation. In 204, youth voter turnout was as high as 62% in Minnesota and as low as 33% in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Read more about these differences in voting rates here.

These differences in youth voter turnout, which are larger racial, social, and economic inequities, are not new. As with overall turnout, our analysis of Census data produces slightly different estimates but shines a light on the stubborn persistence of these inequities across the decades.

While some still believe that young people are apathetic about politics, our research shows that's not the case. Youth are passionate about issues and often want to engage in the political process, but they frequently face barriers to participation. Many of these barriers are even more consequential for youth of color and other marginalized young people, which impacts their ability to vote and their communities’ ability to be well-served by our democracy:

• Confusing, Ever-Changing Election Policies: Voting in America is not a straightforward process. Registration deadlines and requirements are different in every state, voting may conflict with work and/or school, absentee voting rules can be confusing, voters may lack transportation to the polls, etc. Some of these barriers are especially acute for the youngest voters, who may struggle to update their voter registration when they move dorms each year in college, or who are less likely to have a driver's license to use as a voter ID. Learn more

• Lack of Contact and Lack of Information: Because they're less likely to have a voting history or be seen as likely voters, many political organizations neglect youth outreach. In 2022, almost half of young people we surveyed (46%) said they were not contacted by any type of organization, candidate, or party. That can lead to a lack of information and confidence: 21% of youth in 2022 said it was because they didn't feel like they knew enough, and just 40% said they felt well-qualified to participate in politics. Learn more

• Foundational Civic Learning is Neglected and Inequitable: Many young people are simply not taught about elections and voting in school; both the practicalities of registering and casting a ballot and the reasons why their voices and votes matter in democracy. Learn more

Released in 2022, the CIRCLE Growing Voters report and framework is a comprehensive guide for how communities and institutions can work toward increased and more equitable youth electoral participation. It includes recommendations for campaigns, educators, nonprofits, media, philanthropists, parents, and young people themselves to lead or support transformational shifts in how we prepare youth for democracy.

Our recent research expands on those findings and recommendations:

• Exploring the Connections between Media Ecosystems and Youth Voting

• How Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships Can Grow Voters

• What Helps Youth Vote? Direct Civic Information and Political Homes

• How Libraries Can Grow Voters

• Equitable Civic Learning for All: How K-12 Schools Can Grow Voters