Youth Vote Turns Out

One of the stories that will likely come out in the coming days is how young voters turned out in Tuesday's midterm elections. In 2006, 10 million 18-29 year olds voted, up 2 million from 2002. The most compelling statistic (although the wonkiest) is that young voters increased their share of the electorate (from 11% in 2002 to 13% in 2006) even as their percentage of the population decreased. That means that even as a smaller piece of the population, young voters turned out in such increased numbers that it registered in the national numbers.

In a number of states across the country PIRG students tracked turnout at precincts that are heavily youth centered. We saw big increases in Columbus, OH, Boulder, CO and Storrs, CT compared to 2002.

The generation that is now coming of age politically is more engaged than Gen's X and Y, and are making politicians pay attention to them.