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Vol. 38, No. 18 |
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1-23-2008 Ask the Expert, 1/24/08
Between 1972, when 18- to 20-year-olds were first given the right to vote, and 2000, turnout among young voters ages 18-24 declined by at least 13 percent. The conclusion often drawn from low voter turnout is that young voters are less engaged in the political process and do not care about the larger issues facing their communities. But I think that the data from the 2004 presidential election suggest a more complicated scenario. First, it is important to remember that there is no official record of voters by age. So, voter turnout by age is based on some sort of survey or poll, which involve random samples rather than exact numbers. Second, there is disagreement about the exact number of eligible voters. Finally, there is a number of different surveys and polls, all of which estimate voter turnout. Nevertheless, it is very clear that voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds increased dramatically in the 2004 presidential election. Depending on the survey used, young voter turnout increased anywhere from 5 percent to over 12 percent from the 2000 election.
Does this mean we can expect a large turnout in ‘08? There are many challenges facing us if we want to continue to encourage voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds. Young voters, particularly those on college campuses, were enthusiastic participants in the 2000 presidential election. We need to make sure that their enthusiasm is undampened and their ability to vote is unimpeded. In 2000, many college students found it difficult, if not impossible, to vote. In many of these instances, local officials interpreted voter residency requirements in such a way as to preclude students from legitimately registering to vote in their college communities. Other students found that their student identifications were insufficient proof of identity when they appeared at the polls. Voting is a right. If we are serious about increasing participation among our youngest voters, then we need to make sure they are not disenfranchised.
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Why do teens seem to be disengaged from politics?