National Young Voter Turnout Increases by More than Two Million

[Washington, DC] Young voter turnout surged by at least 2.2 million votes over 2004 levels this election, according to new data released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

“Across the country, the excitement on college campuses this election cycle was palpable,” said Sujatha Jahagirdar, Program Director with the Student PIRGs New Voters Project. “That enthusiasm spilled into the ballot box this year.”

For the first time in twenty years, young voter share of the electorate also surpassed that of voters over 65, with young people making up 18 percent of the electorate and those over 65 making up 16 percent.

Several factors - from increased attention paid to young voters by candidates to the proliferation of technology in the lives of young voters to a rise in civic engagement among young people - contributed to this surge.

This year’s youth turnout marks the third significant increase in turnout in as many election cycles. In 2004, turnout rates increased among young voters by 11 percent, nearly three times the rate of the general population. In 2006, youth turnout increased by two million votes, while general turnout increased only slightly.

Young voter outreach efforts employed an array of tactics to mobilize young voters to the polls. On 100 campuses in 17 states, the Student PIRGs' New Voters Project combined old-fashioned pavement pounding with technology to reach the wired world of the young voter.

Students on campuses across the country stormed dorms, invaded classrooms and even staged guerrilla theater performances to urge young voters to the polls. They also employed a cadre of tech tools - from Facebook to ‘text out the vote’ tables to urge their friends to the polls.

“The primary lesson of this election is that when you pay attention to young people, they will turn out on Election Day,” concluded Jahagirdar.

2008: Young Voters Turning Out in Big Numbers

Something big is happening in our democracy – young people are voting. Already, young people turned out in record numbers at the nation’s first caucus and primary contests of 2008.   In fact, youth turnout went up four percentage points Maryland this primary season (source: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement).

Even more exciting, the big youth vote numbers this year are part of a surge we’ve seen over the past several election cycles.  In 2004, for example, the youth vote in Maryland increased by 10 percent over 2000, echoing similar increases across the country. 

Click here for more research on young voter increases over the past several election cycles.

Maryland PIRG’s New Voters Project has been a big part of these increases.  Since 2004, we have helped to register thousands of young voters in the state and worked to mobilize them to the polls. 

This primary season, in addition to invading classrooms and organizing get out the vote events on campus, we also launched the What’s Your Plan? Campaign.  Rather than wait for the presidential candidates to come to us, hundreds of student campaign volunteers hit the campaign trail to ask the presidential candidates What’s Your Plan?  To stop global warming.  To make a college education affordable.  To ensure financial security for all Americans.  To provide affordable, effective healthcare.

The campaign was a huge success.  Over the course of the primary season, more than 500 volunteers with the campaign asked all the major presidential candidates their plans on these crucial issues more than 100 times.   This effort helped demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm of young people this election cycle and encouraged the candidates to directly engage young people in the issues we care about. 

Click here to learn  more about Maryland PIRG’s What’s Your Plan? campaign

What’s Next
In the months leading up to the November elections, student leaders with Maryland PIRG will once again hit campus to make sure that the voice of young people continues to be heard this election cycle.  

We’ll pair old-fashioned pavement-pounding with technology that reaches the increasingly wired world of the young voter – organizing registration ‘dorm storms, ‘ ‘text out the vote’ class announcements and get out the vote carnivals. 

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