1. “State Voting Laws:
How They Affect Young Voters”
www.civicyouth.org
www.civicyouth.org

2. Workshop
Outline
• Introductions
• 2008 Youth Vote Quiz
• Answers: What Happened in 2008
• Small Group Discussion
• Debrief/Closing
www.civicyouth.org

3. 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

4. 2008 Youth Vote Quiz
Answers
www.civicyouth.org

5. Question #1:
How many 18- to 29-year-olds were eligible to vote
in the 2008 general election?
d. 20 million
e. 44 million
f. 68 million
g. 77 million
www.civicyouth.org

6. Question #1:
How many 18- to 29-year-olds were eligible to vote
in the 2008 general election?
• 20 million
• 44 million
• 68 million
• 77 million
www.civicyouth.org

7. •Current college students. These are individuals who at the time of our survey said they were enrolled in a college or university.
Education
Classifications
Ages 18-24 Registration Turnout
Rate 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
70% 60%
university.
3. Young people with some college experience: These are
young people who have said they have more education than a
64% 51%
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.
4. Non-college youth: These are young people who have no
college experience.
46% 36%
www.civicyouth.org

8. www.civicyouth.org

9. Women Were More Mobilized
Source: National Election www.civicyouth.org
Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

10. www.civicyouth.org

11. Question #2:
Which of these three Get-Out-The-Vote tactics, on
average, leads to the highest increase in youth
voter turnout?
c. Peer canvassing
d. Robocalls
e. Non-partisan leaflets
www.civicyouth.org

12. Question #2:
Which of these three Get-Out-The-Vote tactics, on
average, leads to the highest increase in youth
voter turnout?
• Peer canvassing
• Robocalls
• Non-partisan leaflets
www.civicyouth.org

13. 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 www.civicyouth.org
Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

14. Question #3:
Which of these state policies/laws, on average,
increases youth voter turnout the most?
c. Getting mailed your polling site information before
the election
d. Extended polling location hours
e. Election Day Registration
f. Getting mailed a sample ballot before the election
www.civicyouth.org

15. Question #3:
Which of these state policies/laws, on average,
increases youth voter turnout the most?
• Getting mailed your polling site information before
the election
• Extended polling location hours
• Election Day Registration
• Getting mailed a sample ballot before the election
www.civicyouth.org

16. 80% 76.0% Figure 1: 18-29 Turnout in 08 Election by State
70%
•60% 51.10%
(National)
•50%
States that implement
Election Day Registration
40%
30.9%
30%
•20% North Dakota Does not
require advance registration
10%
0%
IL
H
R
IN
ID
IA
N
I
M
F
W
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C
K
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V
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D
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D
N
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A
D
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A
P
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L
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K
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E
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A
C
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E
S
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W
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N
D
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A
Y
V
O
A
www.civicyouth.org

17. 4. What percent of young voters voted by mail in
the 2008 Election?
a. 2%
b. 24%
c. 56%
d. 14%
www.civicyouth.org

18. 4. What percent of young voters voted by mail in
the 2008 Election?
a. 2%
b. 24%
c. 56%
d. 14%
www.civicyouth.org

19. • 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

20. 5. During the 2008 Presidential Election, how many
states offered Election Day Registration?
a. 12
b. 24
c. 32
d. 9
www.civicyouth.org

21. 5. During the 2008 Presidential Election, how many
states offered Election Day Registration?
a. 12
b. 24
c. 32
d. 9
www.civicyouth.org

22. Figure 2: Effect of EDR on Youth Voter Turnout
80%
70% 63% 61% 69%62%
56% 54% 58%58% 59%
60% 51% 50%
47% 44%
50% 41% 45%
40% 35%
30%
20%
10%
0%
EDR No EDR All 18-29
www.civicyouth.org

23. Question #6
Of 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

24. Question #6
Of 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

25. • 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. www.civicyouth.org

29. www.civicyouth.org

30. 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?
c. 53%
d. 43%
e. 70%
f. 61%
www.civicyouth.org

31. 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?
•53%
•43%
•70%
•61% www.civicyouth.org

32. www.civicyouth.org

33. 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

34. 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

35. www.civicyouth.org

36. Party Identification by Age and Race, 2008
Source: National Election www.civicyouth.org
Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

37. Young Voters: A Diverse Cohort
Source: National Election www.civicyouth.org
Pool, National Exit Poll 2008

38. Question #9:
Which state had the highest youth
turnout in 2008?
a. Minnesota
b. Iowa
c. Oregon
www.civicyouth.org

39. Question #9:
Which state had the highest youth
turnout in 2008?
a. Minnesota
b. Iowa
c. Oregon
www.civicyouth.org

40. For More
Information…
• 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.org
Emily Hoban Kirby - emily.kirby@tufts.edu
www.civicyouth.org