2006 Press Releases

March 1, 2006

March 2006 Declared "Young Voter Month"

35th Anniversary of 18-Year-Olds’ Right to Vote Comes on Heels of Dramatic Young Voter Turnout Increase in 2004 Elections

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2006

Contact: Kathleen Barr, Young Voter Strategies, The George Washington University

P: 202-994-9528

Washington, D.C.: Voter outreach groups are celebrating “Young Voter Month” this March, the 35th anniversary of 18-20 year olds winning the right to vote.

[1]  The anniversary comes on the heels of a dramatic increase in recent young voter turnout: in 2004, more than 20 million 18-29 year olds voted in the general election, a nine percentage point increase over 2000 and more than twice the overall electorate’s turnout increase.

[2] Politically persuadable, huge in number, and increasingly active, young people are a group to watch during the 2006 election cycle.

“We’re witnessing a potential sea change in young voter participation,” said Heather Smith, Director of Young Voter Strategies. “Generation Y [3] is the most civically engaged age group today and now they’re also making themselves heard at the ballot box.  The huge turnout jump in 2004 shows that young people are paying attention.”

“In 1971, young people led the effort to win the right to vote for 18 to 20 year olds.  As someone deeply involved in that 1971 effort, it is very exciting to see young voters turning out in growing numbers today,” said Sam Reed, President of the National Association of Secretaries of State and Washington Secretary of State. “With ever-greater participation from young Americans, our democracy is stronger and more energized.”

Leading analysts suggest two main factors behind the increase in young voter turnout: a more engaged Generation Y and targeted field efforts that mobilized young people.  Generation Y-ers, growing up through 9/11, Columbine and the Iraq War, are involved in community service in a way that Generation X never was. A 2005 Harvard University study found that two-thirds of college students surveyed volunteered in their communities at least once in the past year, [4] while a UCLA study found nearly 90% of college freshman volunteered during their senior years in high school. [5]

Further, in 2004, youth voting groups invested an estimated $50 million toward youth-oriented outreach campaigns—the most ever targeted towards young people.  And in 2005, peer-to-peer outreach efforts continued and turnout grew by 19 and 15 percent in targeted student precincts during the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, even while overall voter turnout went down in both states. [6] 

In 2006, Young Voter Strategies will help build on youth voting momentum by coordinating a national, nonpartisan project to register 18 to 29 year olds.  “In 2004, we showed that if you ask them, they will vote,” said Smith.  “Generation Y is still coming into its own politically; in 2006, we urge candidates and campaigns to reach out to this group of voters.” 

Generation Y is attracting notice as the latest, largest group of swing voters. On track to make up one-quarter of the U.S. population in ten years, Generation Y is up for grabs politically. Adults 18-29 years old identify one-third as Democrat, one-third Independent and one-third Republican.  [7]

“Campaigns and candidates can no longer ignore the youth vote,” said Dr. Christopher Arterton, Dean of The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.  “Generation Y is large, increasingly active, and up for grabs politically.  Parties should take note—in today’s evenly divided electorate, whoever wins over young voters today will win close elections in the short-run and likely be the party in power in the long-run.”   

Groups, universities, and elected officials celebrating Young Voter Month include Young Voter Strategies, The George Washington University, National Association of Secretaries of State President Sam Reed, and the ever-growing community of nonpartisan youth voter outreach groups.

To schedule an interview with Young Voter Strategies, please contact Kathleen Barr at 202-994-9528.