Through a partnership in Minneapolis, we studied how youth gain skills, contribute to their communities, and increase youth turnout by working at the polls.

Our analysis of youth voter turnout nationwide finds wide variation between states and underscores the importance of electoral laws and policies that help grow voters.

New Jersey led the region and the nation in youth voter turnout in 2020; six states in the Northeast had turnout rates above 50%.

The states with one of the highest (Minnesota) and the lowest (South Dakota) 2020 youth voter turnout are in the Midwest.

Voter turnout across the South a region where voting by mail was generally not as easy, ranged from 56% in Virginia to 34% in Oklahoma.

Electoral participation ranged from 39% to 63% in this region, where many states tried to facilitate voting by mail in 2020.

A close look at the reasons why some youth didn’t register, or registered but didn’t vote, suggests needed improvements in electoral administration and outreach.

Our research finds a big gap between the vote choice of young white voters and young voters of color in rural areas/small towns.

Campaign contact, digital outreach, young people engaging their peers, and action on racial justice all contributed to higher youth voter turnout.