Tufts study: Young vote key in 2014 races

[Miles]

Tufts looked at the youth vote in several swingy Senate states this year. The rise in youth particpation from 2010 to 2012 was usually pretty dramatic (in many cases doubling). This really undescores Democrat's need to create a situation where 2014 resembles 2012 as much as possible. Also worth noting for Democrats in that in many states, the youth vote is notably less white than the overall population.

It klooks like they have PDF reports for every state (just change the state abbrevaitions in the URL's). I just chose the big races to post here.

Louisiana:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 26%
'12- 52%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- 13%
'12- 19%

North Carolina:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 24%
'12- 57%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- 11%
'12- 16%

Arkansas:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 18%
'12- 30%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- 8%
'12- 19%

Georgia:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 24%
'12- 47%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- NA
'12- 19%

Colorado:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 30%
'12- 56%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- 13%
'12- 20%

Iowa:

18-29 Voter Turnout:
'10- 29%
'12- 57%

Youth share of electorate:
'10- 10%
'12- 25%

[Brittain33]

Those Arkansas numbers are shocking. It looks less like young Arkansans are much more Republican than their elders, than that they're checked out of the political process.

[ElectionsGuy]

Nice breakdown! I think many expect an even lower turnout this year than 2010, due to lack of any kind of enthusiasm. That's bad news for democrats. Young voters often need something to energize them to vote.

[Tender Branson]

This really undescores Democrat's need to create a situation where 2014 resembles 2012 as much as possible.

Unlikely.

Looking at the dramatically falling primary turnout this year, even compared with 2010, the mid-terms will have record-low turnout.

People these days HATE Democrats and Republicans.

... which will produce some crazy election results.