What is the Best Way to Encourage Young Voters to Vote in Elections?
Post 9-11, youth voter participation increased, hitting an all-time high of 44.3% in the 2008 Presidential election (1). However, since then, there has been a decline in youth taking advantage of their right to vote. A recent 2014 poll by the Harvard Institute of Politics predicts that the 2014 Midterm Elections will have an all-time low voter turnout for youth or “millennials” aged 18-29 (3). Numerous reasons are cited for the decline and predicted low voter turnout such as the recession and its impact on student loans and lack of jobs, the Congressional gridlock, the loss of interest in the President and his policies, and a growing distrust in big government and big business (2). On the other hand, many claim that the millennial generation is passionate about the progress of the United States and is engaged in many volunteer organizations.
With millennials forming the biggest generation since the baby boomers, what is the best way to encourage youth to take their optimism and dedication to service and apply it at the voting booth?
Teaching About Youth Vote
- Lesson Plan
- Vocabulary Preview
- Background Video Questions
- Background Article Questions
- Note-taking Chart
- Deliberation activities
Background Article
- Politicians Court the Millennials, but Will They Vote? – Wall Street Journal
![](https://c-spanclassroomdeliberations.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Ivoted.jpg)
Background Information
John Della Volpe: Harvard Institute of Politics
(3 min)
Ashley Spillane: Rock the Vote (2 mins)
Explore Varying Viewpoints
Civic Education (3 mins)
Abby Kiesa, Youth Vote Researcher, CIRCLE
Issues Important to Youth (3 mins)
Andrew McCracken, Executive Director, National Campus Leadership Council
Meet with Representatives (1 min)
Andrew McCracken, Executive Director,National Campus Leadership Council
Explore Varying Viewpoints
Voter Registration Process (3 mins)
Stephanie Sanchez, College Democrats of America
Leadership and Personal Contact ( 3 mins)
Michael Krueger, College Republican National Committee
Republican Outreach to Youth
Charlie Kirk, Founder and Executive Director,
Turning Point USA ( 4 mins)
Democratic Outreach to Youth
Natasha McKenzie,National Vice President,
College Democrats of America (1 min)
Chris Gallaway, President (Former),
Young Democrats of America (2 mins)
Additional Web Resources and Polls
(1) Young Voter Data and Analysis, 1962-2012 - U.S. Census Bureau
(2) Millennials in Adulthood - Pew Research Center
(3) Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes Toward Politics and Public Service - Institute of Politics,Harvard University
(4) Enfranchising America’s Youth - Project Vote