Wisconsin's Young Voters, Rising Influence, and the 2024 Election

Author: José Velásquez, Sam Searles
Contributors: Alberto Medina, Seona Maskara 

The Youth Electoral Significance Index (YESI) uses more than a dozen data points to rank states and districts where young people are most likely to influence election outcomes if sustainably engaged. These include demographic indicators, data on past voter participation, and how well a state’s policies and communities can support young voters.  It also considers electoral competitiveness: the 2020 presidential race in Wisconsin was decided by less than 1% and fewer than 20,000 votes, and the presidential election is expected to be highly competitive again this year.

Our rankings place Wisconsin in second place for potential youth impact in the presidential races, and 5th in the country for its highly competitive Senate race. Additionally, Wisconsin’s 3rd House District is among the top 40 House races in the country where youth have the potential to make a difference. The state has placed highly in our YESI rankings in other recent cycles: Wisconsin had the top-rated governor’s race in our 2022 ranking, and that year’s Senate race in the state was decided by a single percentage point.

Youth in Wisconsin Have Shaped Recent Election Results

Youth have been critical in recent election cycles in Wisconsin. While CIRCLE does not produce its own voter file-based estimate of youth voter turnout in Wisconsin, according to Census data, in 2020 youth had the highest youth voter turnout among 18 - 24-year-olds in the country, followed by Michigan and the District of Columbia. According to that data, of 579,000 eligible 18 to 24-year-old voters in Wisconsin, 341,000 registered to vote, and 286,000 voted. 

In Wisconsin’s 2023 Supreme Court Election, young voters were also influential. Campus engagement may have been especially critical: out of all 77 voting wards in Eau Claire County, the highest turnout was in Ward 20, home to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Youth Are Engaged, but Election Laws May Be a Challenge

There are several indicators that Wisconsin youth are engaged and supported in their political participation. The state ranks highly in our Youth Electoral Significance Index, in part due to its high Youth Investment Index, a composite measure that includes factors like funding for education and the number of nonprofits in the state that serve youth. 

Young people are also highly engaged in political and social discussions; according to Census data, 82% of youth in the state report having political conversations with friends or family—17 points above the national average. However, that interest in politics is not always met by access: Wisconsin youth may be highly engaged despite a less-than-ideal policy context for electoral participation.

Election laws in Wisconsin are a mixed bag: the state has online voter registration (OVR), same-day registration (SDR), no-excuse absentee ballots, a permanent absentee voter list, and other facilitative policies. CIRCLE has found that OVR can increase youth registration among voters ages 18-24 by up to ten points. Our research also shows that in 2020 states, like Wisconsin, with no-excuse absentee voting, had an estimated 50% youth voter turnout—higher than in states where you need an excuse to vote absentee.

However, Wisconsin does not have other facilitative policies like automatic voter registration (AVR) and pre-registration at age 16, which can be especially effective in engaging younger voters. The state also has few statutes and policies that support voter education and engagement in high schools, including those that mandate voter registration forms in schools. Wisconsin is also considered one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. 

On the positive side, Wisconsin does allow youth to serve as poll workers, which is a key but underused way to engage young people in democracy. Poll worker positions have become increasingly difficult to fill across the country; young people who do this work can strengthen their understanding and engagement in the democratic process while supporting their communities.

Rural and Non-College Youth Need Engagement and Support

Throughout Wisconsin, young voters on college campuses and in college towns may be getting outreach and support from their educational institutions or other organizations. However, youth in other communities, such as rural places, may need support from other sources and institutions.

Rural youth are more likely to live in civic deserts, and their communities may experience challenges with election infrastructure, as is the case in one small town in Wisconsin that recently lost all three of its election workers. According to the state, more than 40 of Wisconsin’s counties are rural. 

The Rural Democracy Initiative has found that 30 million young rural voters are infrequent or uncommitted voters and that 24% of rural residents are people of color. In Wisconsin, some of those rural residents of color are facing challenges that are affecting the fabric of the community.

CIRCLE’s research on rural youth highlights how some of these challenges can be barriers to voting. Some rural young people feel their voices do not matter in their community. However, young people’s ability to shape election results in a state where the presidential race was decided by less than 20,000 votes in 2020 could help show them they have power.

Youth Need Outreach and Support from Now Until November

As the election season draws to a close, the presidential campaigns are certainly aware of the state’s importance. Both the Harris/Walz and Trump/Vance tickets visited the state in October. Organizations within Wisconsin are active, working with college students, Latinx, BIPOC voters, and youth in general to campaign for specific issues and encourage civic engagement. 

While CIRCLE does not calculate youth voter registration data for Wisconsin, Civic Center data from the beginning of 2024 showed that new voter registration was a major challenge in the state. That tracks with our data from other states that shows the newest voters continue to be the most difficult to register and engage. However, with policies like Same-Day Registration, the work to engage Wisconsin youth can continue until Election Day in the coming weeks and beyond for future cycles.