Forget everything you thought you knew about apathetic young voters, because the dramatic surge in youth turnout is rewriting the political playbook across the United States and around the globe.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among youth aged 18-29 reached 55%, a significant increase from previous cycles
- For the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, youth turnout (18-29) was 31%, higher than the 21% in 2014 midterms
- In 2022 U.S. midterms, 18-24 year olds had a turnout of 23%, while 25-29 was 34%
- In Minnesota 2020, youth 18-24 turnout was 58.1%, highest state
- Texas 2020 youth 18-29 turnout 46.2%
- California 2022 midterms youth turnout 18-24: 22.4%
- US youth 18-24 turnout in 1972 was 43.4%, first post-26th amendment election
- 1976 presidential youth turnout dropped to 37.8%
- 1980 youth 18-24: 33.5%
- In 2020, young women 18-29 turnout 58%, higher than young men at 52%
- Among Black youth 18-29 in 2020, turnout was 59%
- Latino youth 18-24 turnout 2020: 48.2%
- In Canada 2019 federal election, youth 18-24 turnout was 57%
- UK 2019 general election youth 18-24 turnout 47%
- Australia 2022 federal youth 18-24: 68%
Youth voter turnout recently hit historic highs, especially in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Demographics
- In 2020, young women 18-29 turnout 58%, higher than young men at 52%
- Among Black youth 18-29 in 2020, turnout was 59%
- Latino youth 18-24 turnout 2020: 48.2%
- White youth 18-29 2020 turnout 53.4%
- College-educated youth 2020 turnout 65%, vs non-college 47%
- Suburban youth turnout 2020: 56.7%, urban 51.2%, rural 45.3%
- Asian American youth 18-29 2020: 54.1%
- In 2018, young men turnout 28%, young women 34%
- Black youth women 2020 turnout 62.3%
- Rural Latino youth 2020: 42.8%
- LGBTQ+ youth turnout 2020 estimated at 60%
- First-time youth voters 2020: 53% turnout
- Youth with disabilities 2016 turnout 35%
- Urban Black youth 18-24 2020: 57.9%
Demographics Interpretation
While young people aren't a monolith, these numbers paint a clear picture: the ballot box in 2020 was most reliably opened by the educated, the suburban, and young Black women, while rural areas and those without degrees lagged behind, proving that political engagement is less about age and more about opportunity and community.
Historical Trends
- US youth 18-24 turnout in 1972 was 43.4%, first post-26th amendment election
- 1976 presidential youth turnout dropped to 37.8%
- 1980 youth 18-24: 33.5%
- 1984 Reagan election youth turnout 42.1%
- 1988 youth turnout 36.2%
- 1992 Clinton election youth 18-29: 39.7%
- 1996 youth turnout lowest at 32.4%
- 2000 Bush v Gore youth 36.1%
- 2004 youth surged to 47.1%
- 2008 Obama election youth 50.1%
- 2012 youth 41.9%
- 2014 midterms youth 19.9%
- 2016 youth 43.8%
- 2018 midterms youth 31.1%
- 2020 record high youth 52.6% for 18-29
- Midterm youth turnout 1982: 38.2%
- 1990 midterms youth 20.4%
- 2002 post-9/11 youth turnout 28.7%
- 2006 midterms youth 26.3%
- 2010 Tea Party midterms youth 24.1%
Historical Trends Interpretation
Youth voters, like capricious ghosts, only haunt the polls in numbers when they either see a political savior or feel the cold breath of a national crisis.
International
- In Canada 2019 federal election, youth 18-24 turnout was 57%
- UK 2019 general election youth 18-24 turnout 47%
- Australia 2022 federal youth 18-24: 68%
- Germany 2021 federal youth 18-24: 49.2%
- France 2022 presidential youth 18-24: 28%
- Sweden 2022 youth 18-21: 71%
- Netherlands 2021 youth 18-24: 52.6%
- South Korea 2020 parliamentary youth 18-29: 46.7%
- Brazil 2022 presidential youth 16-24: 54.8%
- India 2019 Lok Sabha youth 18-29 estimated 40%
- Japan 2021 general youth 18-19: 43%
- Spain 2023 general youth 18-24: 45.2%
- Italy 2022 general youth 18-24: 38.7%
- Mexico 2021 midterm youth 18-29: 41.3%
- New Zealand 2023 youth 18-24: 67%
- Ireland 2020 general youth 18-24: 62.5%
- Poland 2023 presidential youth 18-29: 48.9%
- Turkey 2023 presidential youth 18-24: 52.1%
- Argentina 2023 presidential youth 16-29: 55.4%
International Interpretation
While youth engagement can swing dramatically from Sweden's robust 71% to France's concerning 28%, these figures collectively whisper a global truth: democracies are on a generationally unstable footing, reliant on a coin toss as to whether the young will show up to shape their own future.
State-Level US
- In Minnesota 2020, youth 18-24 turnout was 58.1%, highest state
- Texas 2020 youth 18-29 turnout 46.2%
- California 2022 midterms youth turnout 18-24: 22.4%
- Florida 2020 youth 18-29: 49.8%
- New York 2018 youth turnout 27.5%
- Georgia 2022 youth 18-24: 25.1%
- Pennsylvania 2020 youth 18-29: 52.3%
- Wisconsin 2016 youth turnout 52%
- Michigan 2022 youth 18-24: 26.8%
- Ohio 2020 youth 18-29: 45.7%
- Illinois 2018 youth turnout 28.9%
- Colorado 2020 youth 18-24: 61.2%
- Virginia 2022 youth turnout 24.3%
- North Carolina 2020 youth 18-29: 50.1%
- Washington 2022 youth 18-24: 29.7%
- Oregon 2020 youth turnout 57.4%
- Nevada 2018 youth 25.6%
- Arizona 2022 youth 18-29: 28.2%
- New Jersey 2020 youth turnout 47.9%
- Massachusetts 2018 youth 30.1%
State-Level US Interpretation
Minnesota and Colorado's youth are apparently running the democracy show, while the rest of the country's young voters seem to be stuck on the "maybe next election" loading screen.
US National Turnout
- In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among youth aged 18-29 reached 55%, a significant increase from previous cycles
- For the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, youth turnout (18-29) was 31%, higher than the 21% in 2014 midterms
- In 2022 U.S. midterms, 18-24 year olds had a turnout of 23%, while 25-29 was 34%
- Youth voter turnout (18-29) in the 2008 presidential election was 48.5%
- In 2012, national youth turnout for 18-24 was 41.2%
- 2020 saw 18-29 turnout at 51.4% per Census data
- Youth 18-24 turnout in 2000 was 36%
- 2004 presidential youth turnout 47%
- 2016 election youth 18-29 turnout 44%
- Non-college youth turnout in 2020 was 48%, lower than college-educated youth at 62%
US National Turnout Interpretation
The data suggests young voters are not apathetic but judiciously selective, dramatically increasing turnout for high-stakes presidential elections while still treating midterms like an optional subscription they occasionally remember to cancel.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CIRCLEcircle.tufts.eduVisit source
- Reference 2CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 3ELECTPROJECTelectproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 4PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 5SOSsos.mn.govVisit source
- Reference 6SOSsos.state.tx.usVisit source
- Reference 7SOSsos.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 8DOSdos.fl.govVisit source
- Reference 9ELECTIONSelections.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 10SOSsos.ga.govVisit source
- Reference 11PApa.govVisit source
- Reference 12ELECTIONSelections.wi.govVisit source
- Reference 13MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 14OHIOSOSohiosos.govVisit source
- Reference 15ELECTIONSelections.il.govVisit source
- Reference 16COLORADOSOScoloradosos.govVisit source
- Reference 17ELECTIONSelections.virginia.govVisit source
- Reference 18NCSBEncsbe.govVisit source
- Reference 19SOSsos.wa.govVisit source
- Reference 20SOSsos.oregon.govVisit source
- Reference 21NVSOSnvsos.govVisit source
- Reference 22AZSOSazsos.govVisit source
- Reference 23NJnj.govVisit source
- Reference 24SECsec.state.ma.usVisit source
- Reference 25BROOKINGSbrookings.eduVisit source
- Reference 26AAPIDATAaapidata.comVisit source
- Reference 27GLAADglaad.orgVisit source
- Reference 28ANCORancor.orgVisit source
- Reference 29JOINTCENTERjointcenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 30ELECTIONSelections.caVisit source
- Reference 31ELECTORALCOMMISSIONelectoralcommission.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 32AECaec.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 33BUNDESWAHLLEITERbundeswahlleiter.deVisit source
- Reference 34IPSOSipsos.comVisit source
- Reference 35VALval.seVisit source
- Reference 36KIESRAADkiesraad.nlVisit source
- Reference 37NECnec.go.krVisit source
- Reference 38TSEtse.jus.brVisit source
- Reference 39ECIeci.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 40SOUMUsoumu.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 41INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 42INTERNOinterno.gov.itVisit source
- Reference 43INEine.mxVisit source
- Reference 44ELECTIONSelections.nzVisit source
- Reference 45ELECTORALCOMMISSIONelectoralcommission.ieVisit source
- Reference 46PKWpkw.gov.plVisit source
- Reference 47YSKGMyskgm.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 48ELECTORALelectoral.gob.arVisit source