What Influences Young Voters?

Young voters (usually considered those in the 18- to 24-year-old range) hold some of the most powerful sway in political elections within the entire pool of eligible voters. Young voters are such a crucial demographic for politicians to appeal to, simply because they are such a wide base and can therefore stand a chance to be the deciding force in who wins an election. Despite their vast potential for exercising their right to vote, the average young voter turnout is tragically low. In the 2000 election, only 36.1 percent of young voters exercised their right to vote, despite it being one of the closest races in election history. In order to stand a chance of reaching young voters and encouraging them to consider your particular political agenda, it is important to understand what factors influence young voters.

History

Voters age 18 to 20 did not receive the right to vote until 1970. In this year, the age requirement was lowered to 18 from 21. Since then, the average turnout of young voters has declined almost steadily until 2004, where a jump was reported from the previous election year. In 2004, the turnout of young voters was 47 percent, up 11 points from the previous election year. This is still nearly 20 percent lower than the average turnout from older voters.

Effects

The Young Democrats of America have noted that by the year 2015, young voters will make up one-third of the entire electorate, which is why they are an important demographic for politicians to pursue.

Considerations

According to a poll by USA Today, there are several factors that influence a young voter's likelihood to vote. These factors include friends, family, religious leaders, news and political commentators, and their teachers. The poll also showed that celebrities influenced young voters by as much as 31 percent. Eight in 10 young voters credit their friends with having moderate to high effects on how they vote.

Misconceptions

There is a misconception among older voters that young voters are hopelessly apathetic. This alleged apathy can lead government to think that young voters just don't care. In fact, it is a variety of factors that influence whether a voter makes it to their precinct on election day. Whether or not a political campaign appeals to the young voter is a big determiner in whether or not the individual will vote. Many young voters simply are led to believe that their vote is unimportant because government is not concerned with the issues that affect their lives.

Theories/Speculation

There is a theory known as "The Daily Show Effect." This is the belief that young voters who regularly watch Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" are more likely to have a cynical outlook towards politics. This could lead young voters to being less likely to participate in the voting process, which will decrease youth voter turnout. This cynicism has also been described as a distrust in government and the media. Whether the show truly affects a voter's outlook is difficult to determine because it is difficult to show direct causality between viewing a television show and later behaviors.

Resources

• USA Today: "Tuned out" voters: They're just not into it