International Affairs: US Presidential Election

The issue with young voters 

Most young people don’t vote; in the 2016 US presidential election, fewer than half of people between 18 and 29 voted. This phenomenon is not uncommon within the United States; many countries worldwide struggle with this issue, including the UK, where less than half of people between 18 and 24 voted in their last election. Elections are designed to ensure that the government best suits the people's interests and upholds the fundamental virtue of democracy. So why do a majority of young people not vote?

Younger people don’t vote primarily because they lack knowledge about the candidates. A study by CIRCLE found that 21% of young people who did not vote said they didn’t have enough information about the candidates, which can be tied to the education system. Young people who graduate with a bachelor's degree are 30 percent more likely to vote than those without one. Higher levels of education create more opportunities to learn about civics and government, which helps them better understand the political and government systems and teaches them to view voting as a civic duty. Higher education also fosters more critical thinking skills and the habit of following the news, leading to more political awareness and a higher chance of voting. 

Another reason used to explain this phenomenon is that younger voters are apathetic to politics. While this may be true for a portion of the younger voter population, research shows that many intend to vote. However, they often face challenging and unpredictable periods—such as work or frequent relocation that ultimately complicate the voting process. Furthermore, many young voters faced complications within the voting process; a survey by FiveThirtyEight found that 22% of young people said they wanted to cast a ballot but did not due to the barriers they faced while voting. For instance, 10% of young voters did not receive their absentee ballot in time to vote, compared to only 5% of people between 35-64. These issues within the voting process affect younger people the most, resulting in a much lower percentage of young voters overall. 

Perhaps the biggest reason for low young voter turnout is a feeling of inadequate representation. In the 2020 election, despite the highest voter turnout this century, Trump and Biden were among the most unpopular candidates in US history. In December 2023, Biden had an abysmal approval rating of 37.7%, the lowest since 1948. Many younger voters correlate this low rating with the Biden administration's lack of action and representation, such as failing to deliver on student loan forgiveness and unethical foreign policy. Additionally, there is a fear that the current political system isn’t responsive enough to their needs; a Pew Research Center study finds that 63% of Americans express little or no confidence in the future of the US political system. This combination of a perceived lack of representation and unmet promised results has deterred many young people from voting. 

Given the importance of young voters, governments must entice them to turn out. One method is exposing teenagers to the electoral process or providing more chances to learn about civics at an earlier age. Allowing students to gain civic knowledge and be introduced to the voting process will make them more inclined to discuss politics or be more engaged. It is encouraging to know many students are in fact interested in learning about government. A study by CIRCLE found that more than two-thirds of school-enrolled students were interested in the 2020 presidential election. Still, only 69% of those interested could take a government class, highlighting that many institutes can better provide young students opportunities to pique their interest in civics. Another method of solving this issue lies within the political campaigns themselves. Political campaigns focus on people deemed likely to vote, meaning those considered unlikely to cast a ballot are left behind—like those that recently acquired the right to vote; this alienates this demographic, creating a deterrence or lack of interest in the voting process. In 2020, CIRCLE found that almost half of young people were not contacted by a major political campaign or party, which further underscores why so many young people don’t turn in elections; by changing the perception of who is likely to vote, it can make a major difference within who votes. 

Young people are an essential demographic in any election, and addressing the factors contributing to this low voter turnout is crucial in creating a more representative democracy. Without the necessary reforms to issues like inadequate knowledge or lack of representation, young voters will stay away from ballots, undermining the representation of the electoral process. Political campaigns need to do their best to adapt and ensure that the interests of young voters are reflected by their actions, ensuring that their voices are heard. The US democracy depends on every demographic; we must create outreach programs, extend education, and offer a welcoming hand to those who feel underrepresented. This will guarantee candidates that aren’t “the lesser of two evils,” but rather positive figures in our national discourse capable of moving the country in the right direction.