2008 Woodie Awards
Young Voters Don't Live Up to Hype Surrounding Turnout
Despite valiant efforts, young voters do not make a better showing at the polls.
David Tarrant
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: Decision 2004
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Despite predictions of a strong turnout, young people appeared to be voting in roughly the same proportions as four years ago.
Exit polls showed that those 18 to 29 years old accounted for 17 percent of all voters, about the same as 2000. They favored Sen. John Kerry, with 56 percent saying they went with the Democratic challenger, and 43 percent choosing President Bush, according to the polls.
Still, election experts predicted that the number of young voters would increase from 2000 and reverse years of declining participation.
Just 36 percent of eligible voters 18 to 24 years old participated in 2000.
"We've had reports from all across the county of long lines at student precincts," said Ivan Frishberg of the New Voters Project, a nonpartisan group working to boost turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds in six battleground states.
According to exit polls, one out of five voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin were younger than 30 - the same percentage of the electorate as voters older than 60, who regularly turn out.
Over the last year, a loose-knit coalition of organizations, including Rock the Vote, MTV Choose or Lose, Declare Yourself and the New Voters Project, spent more than $40 million to get young people to the polls. The campaign hoped to reverse a steady decline in the voting rate of young people. Except for an upswing in 1992, turnout among young voters has fallen one-third in the last 30 years.
Organizers were aiming for 20 million young votes - 2 million more than in 2000.
"Everything I hear is that turnout is going to exceed 20 million," said Hans Reimer, political director for Rock the Vote.
Exit polls showed that those 18 to 29 years old accounted for 17 percent of all voters, about the same as 2000. They favored Sen. John Kerry, with 56 percent saying they went with the Democratic challenger, and 43 percent choosing President Bush, according to the polls.
Still, election experts predicted that the number of young voters would increase from 2000 and reverse years of declining participation.
Just 36 percent of eligible voters 18 to 24 years old participated in 2000.
"We've had reports from all across the county of long lines at student precincts," said Ivan Frishberg of the New Voters Project, a nonpartisan group working to boost turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds in six battleground states.
According to exit polls, one out of five voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin were younger than 30 - the same percentage of the electorate as voters older than 60, who regularly turn out.
Over the last year, a loose-knit coalition of organizations, including Rock the Vote, MTV Choose or Lose, Declare Yourself and the New Voters Project, spent more than $40 million to get young people to the polls. The campaign hoped to reverse a steady decline in the voting rate of young people. Except for an upswing in 1992, turnout among young voters has fallen one-third in the last 30 years.
Organizers were aiming for 20 million young votes - 2 million more than in 2000.
"Everything I hear is that turnout is going to exceed 20 million," said Hans Reimer, political director for Rock the Vote.