Here’s a turnout breakdown for four different age groups — 18 to 29, 30 to 44, 45-59, and 60-plus. The lines always zigzag up for presidential elections and down for midterm elections, but the pattern is consistent in either type of election: The youngest group always has the lowest turnout rate, and the oldest group always has the highest.
The U.S. ranked 26th in voter turnout of the 32 countries for which comparisons could be made. The two charts below show that since the 1960s, turnout rates have hovered between 51% and 62% in U.S. presidential elections, and between 37% and 50% in midterm elections.
• Bernie Sanders is basing his strategy on his ability to increase turnout among young, first-time voters. • But historically, young voters have turned out at lower rates than other age groups, and that pattern has continued in this year’s primary contests. Bernie Sanders has staked his presidential candidacy on expanding voter turnout.
• Experts say voter turnout is likely to be high in the 2020 general election, citing high levels of engagement on both the Democratic and Republican sides. • Bernie Sanders is basing his strategy on his ability to increase turnout among young, first-time voters.
Voter turnout also increased as age, educational attainment and income increased. Voter turnout was highest among those ages 65 to 74 at 76.0%, while the percentage was lowest among those ages 18 to 24 at 51.4%.
People age 65 and older are the most likely to vote, and those between 18 and 24 are the least likely.
-young persons age 18-25 have the lowest voter turnout of any age group; highest voter turnout is among middle-aged Americans, 40-64.
highest level in decades, with 44 percent of those ages 18 to 24 voting (turnout rates were 41 percent for this age group in 2012).
All American citizens 18 years and older can vote, but in most states they must register to do so. Registration laws vary by state, though most states allow it to be done online, and eligible voters can register when they obtain or renew a driver's license. Voters need proof of identity in order to register. American registration laws result in a quarter to a third of eligible voters not being registered to vote.
Voter turnout in the United States is low compared to that in other advanced democracies and has fallen over time, though turnout remains higher for presidential elections than midterm elections. Age, gender, race or ethnicity, and education are all factors that affect the likelihood that a person will vote.
Youth turnout tends to be lowest of any age group. One of the most consistent patterns seen in voter turnout is that young voters go to the polls at lower rates than other age groups do. Here’s a turnout breakdown for four different age groups — 18 to 29, 30 to 44, 45-59, and 60-plus. The lines always zigzag up for presidential elections ...
These percentages are drawn from research by University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald and his U.S. Elections Project, and use the number of Americans eligible to vote, rather than those who are of voting age, as the denominator. Untitled infographic - Infogram.
If Your Time is short. • Experts say voter turnout is likely to be high in the 2020 general election, citing high levels of engagement on both the Democratic and Republican sides. • Bernie Sanders is basing his strategy on his ability to increase turnout among young, first-time voters. • But historically, young voters have turned out ...