Why don’t more young people vote?

[rwsaunders]

I can related to this story in our household as two of our kids (ages 23 and 26) are fully engaged in current events and they have made their voices heard at the polls. The youngest (20) fits the category #2 in the article (the disillusioned), that so well describes his attitude towards politicians and the political process. I will add that Pennsylvania makes it extremely difficult to vote, especially in abstentia. The system also benefits the incumbents who in Pennsylvania, enjoy a 95% re-election rate. What’s the story from your perspective?

Super Tuesday: Why didn't more young people vote? - BBC News

[j44ke]

The reason they don't vote is because they are young.

Think of all the other things they don't do but should.

Voting is just another one of those things.

But also politics is all about winning a majority as quickly as possible with the fewest number of people possible. Anyone who takes 2,3,4 seconds longer to convince or involve - or who doesn't vote in a block or vote consistently or dependably or respond to targeted issues or is reactionary or unpredictable - is walled off to minimize their impact.

In what election in the last 20 years has the voting turnout of young people been the highest?

[deano]

Haven't had time to scope the article yet but look at the candidates.

[bcm119]

If you could vote with an app on your phone while sitting at a red light that just turned green... They would all vote.

[bironi]

I'm in the wrong age category to know why and I can't recall how I felt about it when I was young.
I do remember being excited to vote in my first election as the age was lowered in Washington state to 18 yrs.

[thollandpe]

OK Boomer.

[deano]

OK Boomer.

I was truly typing that same thing at the same time.

[deano]

I didn't mean mean to be brusque in my earlier reply, and I don't mean this one as such either, but seriously, don't think about it too long... the heady Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Obama eras each demonstrated in their own way: unflappable elite rule, remarkable foreign policy continuity, and increasing disaffection with institutions. Nothing about any one of those administrations precipitated more trust in government. The Church, the scouts, and the local bridge club are all burning down, too, in case you didn't notice. The kids know everything is fake and a joke and doesn't represent their interests. I am 35, born in 1985, the first millennial year ... if you think we're bad, juts wait til you meet who comes next, the Zoomers. Their understanding that the world, as it's currently built, is a ruse and actually going to keep on ticking as is, and especially their resultant irony, would curl the hair of any earnest, starry-eyed holdover from the Woodstock era.

I could go on, and offer a hot take on any of the particular given issues, but those will be highly disputed depending on who's got the mic. Welcome to late, ripe post late modernity, atmo.

[thollandpe]

OK Boomer.

That was sarcastic. This question is serious.

Are young people voting now at a lower rate than in the past?

And here's my observation, that we need to do a better job of engaging these young voters. If they're feeling disenfranchised, then why is is so hard to figure out what they're looking for and bring them in? A lot of political commentary I see feels a lot like scolding and/or dismissal, especially of candidates or issues that appeal to young voters.

[theflashunc]

Take your pick, onerous voting requirements in many states -- the latest is residents on college campuses can't vote in their local elections -- the fact voting may very well mean time off work they don't have because early and mail voting has been curbed, the candidates literally being older than their grandparents, take your pick.

The actuarial tables are going to start to change as Boomers continue to die off in droves -- Millenials are already the largest living generation -- so change is coming faster than anyone will care to admit.

[sk_tle]

If you could vote with an app on your phone while sitting at a red light that just turned green... They would all vote.

Said voting app would have a tinder-like UI