Where are all the young voters?

2015-07-24T15:14:21-04:00

A new report from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University finds that, in 2014, youth voter turnout fell to its lowest level on record. Just 19.9 percent of 18- to 29-year-old citizens cast ballots last fall, compared with an average of 26.6 percent for the same age range in other midterm elections over the previous 40 years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-are-the-young-voters/2015/07/23/2781990e-316f-11e5-8f36-18d1d501920d_story.html?hpid=z5

They’re leaving politics, or politics is leaving them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 3:20 PM

2015-07-24T15:20:42-04:00

Too busy buying the new apps for their "smart" phones

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 3:25 PM

2015-07-24T15:25:11-04:00

I agree with CW4 Gary S. that young folks just don't care. They just do not wish to get involved. Right now it's not whats important in their life. Oh the lesson we learn as we get older!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 3:35 PM

2015-07-24T15:35:34-04:00

As a twenty-one year old, I personally don't vote because I don't really find myself informed on the candidates and what have ya. I don't know where to find the information, and I don't have the interest or energy to put into it. There's only one way you're truly going to know how someone is as a president, and that's by them becoming president and serving their term. I don't think there's enough information out there to begin with, and no matter what everyone's going to have their pros and cons. That's the biggest one with me, is how are the pros and cons going to weigh towards me, and I'm just not intelligent enough to figure that much out and, again, I just don't have interest in it. And perhaps MSG Private RallyPoint Member isn't far from the truth with most of my generation, but that certainly isn't all of it. CW4 Gary S. is much more accurate, I'd say.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 24 at 2015 3:47 PM

2015-07-24T15:47:53-04:00

I don't blame young voters for staying away. Look at the candidates. The Democrats are offering a couple (Clinton and Bernie) who look old enough to be my grandparents. The Republicans are younger, but stuck in the past. Now here's an idea. Come join me in the "Leave me the hell alone coalition". It sounds like what most young people want, doesn't it?

http://www.pjtv.com/series/the-leave-us-alone-coalition-get-government-out-of-our-lives-848/leave-us-the-heck-alone-government-should-stop-ruling-our-lives-11141/

Leave Us the Heck Alone! Govt. Should Stop Ruling Our Lives!!! | PJTV

What do people who homeschool their kids, people who smoke e-cigs, and people who own guns have in common? They all want the government to leave them al...

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 24 at 2015 3:48 PM

2015-07-24T15:48:17-04:00

You're far more likely to be killed en route to the polling place than for your vote to change the outcome of an election. Rational albeit cynical decision making can become intuitive quickly

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 12:30 AM

2015-07-25T00:30:23-04:00

I would have cast a vote for President Obama, with my absentee ballot coming from a state that was voting for him anyway. Didn't see much point in taking the time.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 25 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-07-25T09:55:25-04:00

As an old DeadHead friend once said..
"Do you think that if voting really mattered they would let you do it"?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 25 at 2015 5:25 PM

2015-07-25T17:25:25-04:00

They are all texting.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 25 at 2015 6:58 PM

2015-07-25T18:58:54-04:00

Good Question Gunny. Damn Shame we can't get more of them involved in our Political Process. Make their Opinions Known and Heard.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 5:46 AM

2015-07-26T05:46:58-04:00

As others have mentioned, I bet if the future finds us casting ballots using the fingerprint feature in an app on our iPhones, many more will participate. Tons of people vote weekly when it's American Idol/Dancing With The Stars season. Voting from the couch is something that Americans seem to have grown to love in recent years!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 7:17 AM

2015-10-20T07:17:06-04:00

they are mostly well entertained, and will follow the instruction given to them what to vote :). lol

hopefully I am wrong ...

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Oct 20 at 2015 10:22 AM

2015-10-20T10:22:39-04:00

Probably in their parent's basements staring at fading posters of Barack Milhous Carter wondering if they'll ever get a job and be able to pay even the interest on their massive student loans just as Paul Ryan said they would be.

In all honesty, voter apathy's probably the best thing for this country, especially amongst the young given the stupidity, naiveté and ignorance I see from them on a daily basis.

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Oct 20 at 2015 3:51 PM

2015-10-20T15:51:52-04:00

It was the lowest on record for every age group, so beating up on young people is a little rough. This was the first time I voted in a midterm, and I was 27. In the last Presidential election 50% voted, and they went to the President 67 to 30. Had Gov. Romney been able to move that vote to 50-50 he would have won the election. I would be surprised if most of the people on this site would be happy to see the millennials vote since as a generational cohort they are larger than the baby boomers, and the most liberal of any that is still voting.