Where’s the youth vote?

Published 2:58 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fresh numbers from the Washington Elections Division show the number of younger voters dropping as a percentage of the electorate — and their elders, 55 and older, growing as a bloc.

The state has nearly 3.6 million registered voters. The closely watched youngest voters have traditionally the lowest voter turnout rate of all segments of the population — a perplexing reality that keeps election outreach workers searching for ways to connect.

The new figures show that the pool of 18- to 24-year olds eligible for last week’s election was 9 percent of the total electorate, shrinking from 10 percent last year. The segments between 25 and 54 were little changed. But the older voters, 55 and older, grew as a share of the overall electorate, with those age 65 and older rising from 18.3 percent to 19.1 percent. After this year’s election is certified next month, we’ll be able to find out the turnout by age bracket. Last year, 18- to 24-year olds had a 68 percent turnout and each age segment had a progressively better rate, including an amazing 91 percent participation by folks 55 and older!

A new report on Washington’s efforts to promote voting by 18-year olds concludes that outreach efforts help, but carry a price tag and aren’t a silver bullet for engaging youth.

The report is from the nonprofit Pew Center on the States’ Election Initiatives. Researchers worked with the state Elections Division and the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center at Washington State University. Researchers tracked the state’s 2008 pilot project to encourage young people to register as they turn 18. The state mailed test groups either a postage-paid registration form pre-filled with the youth’s information, or a postcard with info on how to use Washington’s EZ online voter registration system.

The project showed that youth were more likely to register if they got the outreach material, particularly those with the pre-filled, postage-paid application. The mailings also prompted youth to register as they turned 18, rather than wait until closer to Election Day. The Pew report said many youth, including 43 percent of those who got the pre-filled applications, still chose not to register. They told surveyors they didn’t have time to register or didn’t know how. Overall, the project cost about $6 per application received back to the state.

The state Elections Division remains committed to trying to sign up 18-year olds. Secretary of State Sam Reed said: “This office is really aggressive about reaching out to young voters. This sector of the population historically has the lowest participation rate — and these are voices we need to hear.”

State Elections Director Nick Handy said many young people were energized and excited by the 2008 elections, but didn’t turn out in much heavier numbers than usual. “We will continue to reach out to these potential voters, work with our high schools and colleges, conduct civics tours, do mock elections, use social media and investigate fresh new strategies.”

David Ammons is communications director for the secretary of state office. The above first appeared as a series of blog entries, at blogs.sos.wa.gov, and were reproduced in shortened form by permission.