Analysis: Voter Turnout Based on Age

DO NOT WRITE ON

Directions: Read the quote, study the chart and then answer all the questions that follow on one piece of paper with your small group.

“With the ratification of the Twenty-sixth Amendment in 1971, that lowered the voting age to 18 years old, there was great hope and enthusiasm for the younger generation of this nation. Sadly, these great expectations have only been met with declining political participation among youth. The voter turnout rate of 18- to 24-year olds has steadily declined since 1972. . . . The trend and the actual figures are both very disturbing signs for our democracy. “If American democracy is in decline . . . then one need look no further than our youngest citizens to understand the problem. While declining numbers of young people vote each year, this trend represents just one of the symptoms of a more dangerous illness that has come to infect the roots of our democratic nation. Young people today lack interest, trust, and knowledge about American politics, politicians, and public life in general. . . .Since 18-year-olds were first given the chance to exercise their right to vote in the 1972 elections, the voter turnout rate of 18- to 24-year-olds has steadily declined. In 1972, 50 percent of [them] exercised their right to vote. By the 1996 elections, only 32 percent of [that age group] turned out at the polls. . . . Even with changes that have made voter registration easier, only half (49 percent) of 18- to 24-year-olds were registered to vote in 1996. Many young people do not feel that they were given proper information about the political process . . . A majority (55 percent) of the young people agree with the statement that schools do not do a very good job of giving young people the information they need to vote. . . . As one focus group participant said, “I know if I walked into an election [booth], I wouldn’t know what to do. If I had known what’s on the other side of the curtain in the booth, I’d have felt more comfortable.” - Source: National Association of Secretaries of State website; Elections, New Millennium Project

Questions to answer with small groups: (write answers for your group on your own paper)

1. Why do you think youth voter registration and voting steadily declined from 1972 to 1996 based on knowledge of history and youth culture during this time?

2. What conclusions can you draw about the chart with regards to:

 Why the percentage of voters drops off significantly for all age groups in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2014?

 What reasons might explain the highest voter turnout among ages 60 plus?  Why the 45-59 and 60 plus age groups doesn’t see as significant of a decrease in non-presidential election years?

 What ways might we get all younger groups to turn out more regularly in ALL election years, regardless of what offices are up for re-election?