Will this year be the year that young Americans turn out to vote in record numbers? Based on current early voting trends, it looks like it will be.
According to a Harvard Youth Poll conducted in September, 63% of Americans 18-29, said that they will definitely be voting in the presidential election this year. In the 2016 election, number number of young Americans who would definitely be voting in the election was at 47%; 16 percentage points fewer.
Enthusiasm is also high among younger voters. In a new CNN poll, 51% of registered voters 18-34 say they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting in the 2020 presidential election. Voter enthusiasm does not necessarily correlate to higher turnout, but it is a good sign that voters will cast their ballots.
There is also evidence based on the 2018 midterm elections that younger voters will turn out in great margins to vote this year. According to a Pew Research Center Survey, millennial voter turnout almost doubled from the 2014 to the 2018 in the midterm elections. They went from 22% to 44% in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Major social movements in the last few years have driven younger people to actively participate in politics. Protests and movements such as the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter, climate change and gun safety, have all led younger Americans to be more engaged in politics and policy. The outcomes of these movements will impact younger Americans for generations to come, and these voters want their voices heard.
Early voter turnout in many states suggests that young people will break voting records in the 2020 election. According to the Democratic data firm, TartgetSmart, more than 6.8 million people ages 18-29 had voted early or by mail in the election by midweek this week. This is a major increase from the 2016 election of early voting among young voters.
Texas is known for having low rates for voting in previous elections, but this year things are different. According to TargetSmart, by midweek, voters under 30 had cast more than 900,000 ballots in Texas. This is nearly three times the number it was in 2016. Texas had 8.2 million total votes on Wednesday, and the number has continued to increase during the week. These 8.2 million votes are 91% of the votes placed in the 2016 election. Texas has also added 1.9 million voters since 2016, mostly younger and Latino voters who may lean Democratic.
In previous years, younger voters have voted at low rates. Organizations such as When We All Vote and Vote Save America, have been working extra hard this election season to meet young voters where they are. It is important to engage young people in the areas that they spend the most time, such as Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. These organizations have created tools to register to vote, request absentee ballots, make a plan to vote and much more.
The Biden campaign has definitely implemented the strategy of reaching young voters where they are. The campaign has invested money and time in online platforms, such as social media and gaming.
This could be the year that young voters turn out to vote in historic numbers. It will all come down to Election Day.
Amelia Morel 