www.civicyouth.org

“State Voting Laws: How They Affect Young Voters”

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Workshop Outline

1. Introductions2. 2008 Youth Vote Quiz3. Answers: What Happened in 20084. Small Group Discussion5. Debrief/Closing

www.civicyouth.org

The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement

www.civicyouth.org

A national research institute on youth civic and political engagement

Doing Research…Calculating such basic facts as the youth voter turnout and differences in volunteering and voting among various youth groups

Supporting a Research Field …Realizing a national civic research agenda by subgranting over $3.5 million in research grants

Making Connections

…Connecting the research world and policy and practice

Based at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service

activecitizen.tufts.edu

www.civicyouth.org

2008 Youth Vote Quiz

Answers

www.civicyouth.org

Question #1:

How many 18- to 29-year-olds were eligible to vote in the 2008 general election?

a. 20 million

b. 44 million

c. 68 million

d. 77 million

www.civicyouth.org

Question #1:

How many 18- to 29-year-olds were eligible to vote in the 2008 general election?

a. 20 million

b.44 millionc. 68 million

d. 77 million

www.civicyouth.org

Education Classifications

Ages 18-24 Registration Rate

Turnout Rate (of citizens)

1. College graduates: These are individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree.

77% 70%

2. Current college students. These are individuals who at the time of our survey said they were enrolled in a college or university.

70% 60%

3. Young people with some college experience: These are young people who have said they have more education than a high school diploma, but are not currently enrolled in school. This group includes young people who may have dropped out of college, have an associate’s degree or technical degree, or who are taking time off from school.

64% 51%

4. Non-college youth: These are young people who have no college experience.

46% 36%

•Current college students. These are individuals who at the time of our survey said they were enrolled in a college or university.

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Women Were More Mobilized

Source: National Election Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Question #2:

Which of these three Get-Out-The-Vote tactics, on average, leads to the highest increase in youth voter turnout?

a. Peer canvassing

b. Robocalls

c. Non-partisan leaflets

www.civicyouth.org

Question #2:

Which of these three Get-Out-The-Vote tactics, on average, leads to the highest increase in youth voter turnout?

a.Peer canvassingb. Robocalls

c. Non-partisan leaflets

www.civicyouth.org

Did anyone call you or talk to you in person on behalf of either major presidential campaign about coming out to vote?

Source: National Election Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

www.civicyouth.org

Question #3:

Which of these state policies/laws, on average, increases youth voter turnout the most?

a. Getting mailed your polling site information before the election

b. Extended polling location hours

c. Election Day Registration

d. Getting mailed a sample ballot before the election

www.civicyouth.org

Question #3:

Which of these state policies/laws, on average, increases youth voter turnout the most?

a. Getting mailed your polling site information before the election

b. Extended polling location hours

c.Election Day Registrationd. Getting mailed a sample ballot before the election

www.civicyouth.org

•  • States that implement Election Day

Registration• North Dakota Does not require

advance registration

In Oregon, voters vote only by mailStates that mail ballot and polling information by mailSource: Census Current Population Survey November Supplement, 2008

76.0%

30.9%

51.10%(National)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

DC MNIA NH OR VA WI ME MS ND LA MI MD WA OH NC MO DE FL RI CA AL NJ PA SC CO CT GA IL

WY KY AK NV VT MA IN OK NE WV NY NM AZ MT ID TN KS SD TX UT AR HI

Figure 1: 18-29 Turnout in 08 Election by State

www.civicyouth.org

4. What percent of young voters voted by mail in the 2008 Election?

a. 2%

b. 24%

c. 56%

d. 14%

www.civicyouth.org

4. What percent of young voters voted by mail in the 2008 Election?

a. 2%

b. 24%

c. 56%

d. 14%

www.civicyouth.org

• Fourteen percent of young Americans who voted did so by mail.

• In the states where No-Excuse Absentee Voting was an option, 23% of young people who voted did so via absentee ballot.

www.civicyouth.org

5. During the 2008 Presidential Election, how many states offered Election Day Registration?

a. 12

b. 24

c. 32

d. 9

www.civicyouth.org

5. During the 2008 Presidential Election, how many states offered Election Day Registration?

a. 12

b. 24

c. 32

d. 9

www.civicyouth.org

56%63% 61% 58%

44%

69%

45%

59%47%

54% 51% 58%

41%

62%

35%

50%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Figure 2: Effect of EDR on Youth Voter Turnout

EDR No EDR All 18-29

www.civicyouth.org

Question #6Of the young people who didn’t register to vote in the 2008 Presidential election, what was the top reason they gave for not registering? a. They did not meet the registration deadline in their state  b. They did not know where or how to register c. They did not meet the residency requirement for registration

www.civicyouth.org

Question #6Of the young people who didn’t register to vote in the 2008 Presidential election, what was the top reason they gave for not registering? 

a. They did not meet the registration deadline in their state  b. They did not know where or how to register c. They did not meet the residency requirement for registration

www.civicyouth.org

• 21% of 18- to 29-year-olds who did not register to vote stated that they did not meet the registration deadlines in their states.

• An additional six percent stated that they did not know where or how to register.

• And four percent said that they did not meet the residency requirement for registration.

www.civicyouth.org

Question # 7 What level of support did Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain receive from young voters in the 2008 election?

a. Obama 71% vs. McCain 29%

b. Obama 52% vs. McCain 48%

c. Obama 68% vs. McCain 32%

d. Obama 45% vs. McCain 55%

www.civicyouth.org

Question # 7What level of support did Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain receive from young voters in the 2008 election?

a. Obama 71% vs. McCain 29%

b. Obama 52% vs. McCain 48%

c. Obama 68% vs. McCain 32%

d. Obama 45% vs. McCain 55%

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Question #7:

If young people (18-29) with ANY college experience make up 57% of the youth population generally, what percentage did they make up of the youth who turned out to vote in November 2008?

a. 53%

b. 43%

c. 70%

d. 61%

www.civicyouth.org

Question #7:

If young people (18-29) with ANY college experience make up 57% of the youth population generally, what percentage did they make up of the youth who turned out to vote in November 2008?

a.53%

b.43%

c.70%d.61%

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Question #8: Among young people (age 18-29) which racial/ethnic group had the highest turnout rate in 2008?

a. African-American

b. White

c. Latino

d. Asian/Pacific Islander

www.civicyouth.org

Question # 8: Among young people (age 18-29) which racial/ethnic group had the highest turnout rate in 2008?

a. African-American

b. White

c. Latino

d. Asian/Pacific Islander

www.civicyouth.org

www.civicyouth.org

Party Identification by Age and Race, 2008

Source: National Election Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

www.civicyouth.org

Young Voters: A Diverse Cohort

Source: National Election Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

www.civicyouth.org

Question #9:Which state had the highest youth turnout in 2008?

a. Minnesota

b. Iowa

c. Oregon

www.civicyouth.org

Question #9:Which state had the highest youth turnout in 2008?

a. Minnesota

b. Iowa

c. Oregon

www.civicyouth.org

• CIRCLE Fact Sheet: “State Election Law Reform and Youth Voter Turnout” By Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Amanda Nover, and Emily Hoban Kirby, July 2009

• Wolfinger, Highton & Mullin(2003). How Postregistration Laws Affect the Turnout of Registrants, CIRCLE Working Paper 15. Available at: http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP15Wolfinger.pdf

• Fitzgerald (2003). Easier Voting Methods Boost Voter Turnout. CIRCLE Working Paper 1. Available at: http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP01Fitzgerald.pdf.

• Knack & White (2000). Election-Day Registration and Turnout Inequality. Political Behavior, 22, 29-44.

• Gronke, P., Galanes-Rosenbaum, E. & Miller, P.A. (2007). Early Voting and Turnout. PS: Political Science & Politics, October 2007. Available at: http://www.earlyvoting.net/resources/ohio07.pdf. Also see http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/downloads/Newvvpbcosts.pdf for sample financial worksheet for paper-ballot cost savings.

www.civicyouth.orgEmily Hoban Kirby - emily.kirby@tufts.edu

For More Information…