11 Facts About Voting
Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.
- By 2015 the Millennial generation (you!) will account for 1/3 of the electorate.^[American Bar Association: Division for Public Education. “Why Every Vote Matters”. American Bar Association: Division for Public Education. Accessed Nov 11th, 2014. .]
- 50% of eligible young voters (ages 18 to 29) cast a vote in 2012, accounting for 23 million votes.^[The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election.” Web. Accessed Nov 11th, 2014. http://www.civicyouth.org/updated-estimate-50-of-youth-turnout-in-2012-youth-turnout-in-battleground-states-58/]
- 19% of all votes cast in 2012 came from young voters.^[The New York Times. “Election 2012 President Exit Polls”. Web Accessed Nov 11th 2014..]
- The majority of young voters supported President Obama over the Republican candidate in both the 2008 and 2012 election.^[The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election.” Web Accessed November 11, 2014. .]
- Fewer young voters supported President Obama in 2012 than in 2008. In 2008 Obama won 66% of the youth vote (John McCain won 32%), and in 2012 he won 60% (Mitt Romney won 36%).^[The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election.” Web. Accessed November 11, 2014. .]
- In 2012, the youth vote was key in President Obama winning battleground states like Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Had Mitt Romney won those states, he would have won the entire election!^[The Hoover Institution. “Obama and Romney: The Path to the Presidency." Web. Accessed Nov 11th, 2014. .]
- Young voters were more likely to vote in 2012 if they lived in a battleground state (a state that does not consistently lean Democratic or Republican -- the winning party is a toss-up). 58% of young voters cast a vote if they lived in one of these states.^[The Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement. “Updated Estimate: Youth Turnout was 50% in 2012, Youth Turnout in Battleground States 58%”. Web. Accessed Nov 11th, 2014. .]
- In 2012, 4% more young women voted than young men.^[The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election.” Web Accessed Nov 11th, 2014.]
- Young voters are more likely to support issues such as legalizing same-sex marriage, supporting a pathway to citizenship for immigrants, and legal abortion than other age demographics.^[Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends. “Millennials in Adulthood”. Web Accessed November 11, 2014. .]
- 40% of millennials identify as non-white, making them the most diverse voting generation in history.^[Third Way. “The New Electorate and the Future of the Democratic Party”. Web Accessed November 11, 2014. .]
- Young voters were most likely to identify as Democratic (44% vs 38% of all voters).^[The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election.” Web Accessed Nov 11th, 2014. .]
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