Laura Blevins 1

Running head: YOUNG VOTERS INFLUENCE

Young Voters:

Influence on Politics

A Directed Research Project Submitted to the

Faculty of the Graduate School of Business, Strayer University

Toward the Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Degree of Masters in Public Administration

By:

Laura Lee Blevins

Anne Arundel, Maryland

To:
Dr. Harris
Summer 2008
 Laura Blevins 2

STRAYER UNIVERSITY
ANNE ARUNDEL CAMPUS

This Directed Research Project conducted and orally defended

by

……………………………………………………………………………….

Laura Lee Blevins

Has been reviewed and approved

by

……………………………………………………………………………….

Dr. Harris
Professor
 Laura Blevins 3

ABSTRACT

Young voters are the population that is eligible to vote between the ages of 18- and 29-
years-old. Young voters are stereotyped as inconsistent and that they do not turnout on election
day.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if the statement “Young voters do not vote”
is true or just a stereotype. If it was found that young voters do not vote then why do they not
vote.

The study found that age did not affect turnout rates among young voters, however,
education and gender did. Important issues: economy, education and foreign affairs; important
characteristics: honesty, calling for a change, and morals. Young voters do vote just not at the
same rate as their older counterparts.
 Laura Blevins 4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and
the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something
out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary
as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than
anyone else."
~ Brian Tracy

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation for
everyone that has helped me in my journey towards my Masters Degree in Public
Administration.

First, I would like to thank my professor Dr. Harris, who has guided me through my
research.

Next, I would like to thank my family and friends, most importantly my mother. She has
dedicated her life to ensure that all of my hopes and dreams are reality. She has been my rock.
No matter the situation, she has always been there with open arms. My mother has always
believed in me and provided her help and support with my daughter that in turn allowed me the
time to complete my thesis and obtain my degree. Ruby Comer is an incredible woman and I
truly hope that I can be half the mother to my daughter she has been to me.

Another person that deserves my thanks is my daughter, JoAnna. Through her smile and
her laugh she has provided the inspiration and motivation that I needed to complete this journey.
She is the air that I breathe and my reason for living. I love you!

Additionally, one person came into my life as I started this research and she has truly
been a blessing in my life, Donna Janney. She is currently working on her doctorate and teaches
at the University of Arizona. She was instrumental in proofreading and guiding me through my
research. She was some one that I could turn to no matter what the question or situation. I am so
thankful you came into my life!

Finally, I would like to give thanks to all of my professors who have helped me through
my years at Strayer University. Although most of my classes were online, each and every one of
my professors were instrumental in me achieving my goal, my Masters of Public Administration.
 Laura Blevins 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………….. 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………….…………………………………………………. 5
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES……………………………………………………… 7
GLOSSARY……………………………………………………………………………….. 8

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Context of the Problem………………….……………………..….. 9
Statement of the Problem………………………………….............. 11
Research Questions and Hypotheses………………………………. 12
Significance of the Study.………………………………….............. 13
Research Design and Methodology…………………………………14
Limitations of Study………………………………………………...16
Organization of Study……………………………………………… 16

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………….……..…19

CHAPTER 3: YOUNG VOTER TURNOUT DURING PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTIONS…………..……………………………………............ 33

CHAPTER 4: DEMOGRAPHICS THAT AFFECT YOUNG VOTER

PARTICIPATION............................................................................. 41

CHAPTER 5: ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO YOUNG

VOTERS……………………………………………………............ 48

CHAPTER 6: POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A POLITICIAN…............... 59

CHAPTER 7: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS…… 65

Summary…………………………………………………………… 66
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 70
Recommendations……………………………………………….…. 71

REFERENCES…………………………………………………….. 73

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Young Voter Participation Survey…………………... 76
Appendix B: Interest in Politics (table)………………………….… 77
Appendix C: Interest in Politics…………………………………… 77
Appendix D: Does Your Vote Count?.............................................. 78
Appendix E: Planning to Vote this Presidential Election…………. 78
Appendix F: Interest in Politics Based on Age…………………….. 79
Appendix G: Plans to Vote this Presidential Election
Based on Age………………………………………. 79
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Appendix H: Does Your Vote Count? Based on Age…………….. 80

Appendix I: Interest in Politics Based on Gender………………….. 80
Appendix J: Females Interest in Politics Based on
Education……………………………………………81
Appendix K: Males Interest in Politics Based on
Education……………………………………………81
Appendix L: Does Your Vote Count? Based on Gender………...… 82
Appendix M: Does Your Vote Count? Females Based
on Education……………………………………….. 82
Appendix N: Do You Plan to Vote this Presidential
Election? Based on Gender………………………… 83
Appendix O: Females Plans on Voting this Presidential
Election Based on Age………………………………83
Appendix P: Males Plans on Voting this Presidential
Election Based on Age………………………………84
Appendix Q: Females Plans on Voting this Presidential
Election Based on Education……………………….. 84
 Laura Blevins 7

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

Figure 1: Voter Turnout in Presidential Election Years……………………………… 35

Figure 2: Young Voters Issues of Importance………………………………………... 49

Figure 3: Top Issues for Young Voters………………………………………….…… 50

Figure 4: Important Qualities of a President………………………………….……… 60

 Laura Blevins 8

GLOSSARY

Education embodies public schools grade K through 12 as well as higher educational

institutions.

Foreign affair is a term that encompasses any happenings that do not take place in the

United States or on domestic soil.

“Millennial Generation”(p208)is another term used for the young voters of 2008 (Smith,

2007).

Young voters are classified as 18- to 29-year-olds that have the potential to vote. Young

voters are not only young people that actually participate in voting, but also young people that

have the potential to vote.

The voting process includes registering to vote, educating themselves about the

candidates so they can make an educated decision, and cast their vote.

An issue is a topic that is currently affecting the voting population.

 Laura Blevins 9

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Context of the Problem

Young voters are classified as 18- to 29-year-olds that have the potential to vote. Young

voters are not only young people that actually participate in voting, but also young people that

have the potential to vote. It is a commonly held belief among politicians in Washington, D.C.

that young voters do not vote (Smith, 2007). The USA Today solicited people between the ages

of 18- and 29-years-old to write in and express their opinions on the election process (“Young

Voters Speak,” 2006). The published article was entitled, Young voters speak, but who listens?

(2006). Ben Weinberg, who attends Case Western Reserve University, stated that most (young)

people do not vote because they have not found a candidate worth voting for (“Young Voters

Speak,” 2006). Is his statement true or are there other reasons why young people do not vote?

Historical Background

Voting, in itself, is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. The fact that citizens

of the United States, at the age of 18-years-old are able to vote is a high privilege. The

government of the United States views 18-year-olds as adults and people that are able to

contribute in electing their government representatives.

Citizens started fighting for their right to vote in the United States many years ago.

Originally, the right to vote was reserved for white males, over the age of 21 in the United States,

because it was believed that they were the only ones capable of deciding who should run the

government (Epstein & Walker, 2000).

The Black Vote: This movement took place after the Civil War, because the slaves were

freed under the Emancipation Proclamation (Epstein & Walker, 2000). Once the slaves were
 Laura Blevins 10

freed they wanted the same and equal rights as their white counterparts. As a result, they joined

together to achieve their goals as becoming equals when the Constitutional Amendment 14 was

ratified in the late 1860‟s (Epstein & Walker, 2000). There were many other laws that kept the

black man from voting but in the 1960‟s black men were able to rightfully vote in the United

States (Epstein & Walker, 2000).

The Women‟s Suffrage: This was a long, hard fight for women to obtain the right to vote.

The fight was not easy; the reason that women were not allowed to vote can be attributed to the

view that women were not as equal as men (Epstein & Walker, 2000). Some women of the time

did not take that as an answer and persevered until 1920 when the 19th Amendment was added to

the Constitution (Epstein & Walker, 2000). The 19th Amendment states that no citizen of the

United States shall be denied the right to vote based solely on their gender (Epstein & Walker,

2000).

The 18-21 Vote: Before 1971 and the 26th Amendment, young people, ages 18 to 21,

were not able to vote (Epstein & Walker, 2000). The young people were outraged, when during

the Vietnam War the draft was enacted and the government was making 18- to 21-year-olds fight

and die in the war (Epstein & Walker, 2000). The young people were angry that they could

represent their country and fight for the country in a war, but they did not have all of the rights of

every other American citizen. They were unable to elect their government representatives whom

created the draft that made them enlist and go to war (Epstein & Walker, 2000). Hence, the

reason 18-year-olds are able to vote today in the United States of America.

Those three examples show the right to vote is one that people did not take lightly when

they did not have the right. There are many famous people that fought and/or supported these

movements that we learn in history books: Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony, President
 Laura Blevins 11

Lyndon Johnson, President Richard Nixon, and so forth (Epstein & Walker, 2000). All of these

people and many more, played a part at one point in time to ensure that every citizen starting

from age 18-years-old and older had the right to vote in the United States of America.

In the past, politicians have not worried about young voters because of the overwhelming

evidence that they do not turn out to vote. The questions are: Is the tide turning? Are these young

voters starting to realize the power they could have or are they consumed by their personal lives

and as a result they do not have the time to worry about politics and the government?

With the 2008 Presidential elections around the corner the spotlight is starting to shine on

the young voters. Democratic Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, has been tapping into this

group of 18-29-year-olds (Von Drehle, Tumulty, Bowers, Healy, Kloberdanz & Horwath, 2008).

Much of his support comes from the younger generation of voters. His campaign outreach

portrays him as a pioneer for politics today, because he is relying on the younger votes for his

election as the next President of the United States (Von Drehle et al, 2008). It is believed that

Obama‟s campaign is the first in a long time if not at all to be carried by the young voters of

America (Von Drehle et al, 2008). His campaign supporters are unprecedented.

During the 2008 Presidential primaries the candidates visited colleges and universities to

talk to the younger voting population (Emerling & Bellantoni, 2008). These are tactics that

candidates are starting to use in order to communicate with the younger generation and make an

effort to obtain their vote come election day. Efforts are being made to attract young voters but

for some reason the candidates messages for the most part are not reaching the 18-29-year-olds.

Statement of the Problem

Is it true that young voters do not vote? If so, then why do they not vote? There can be

many variables that could affect whether a young person participates in the voting process. Some
 Laura Blevins 12

of these variables include, but are not limited to: education level, race, gender, age, whether their

parents vote and so forth. For the purpose of this study, the only variables that were examined

were educational level, gender and age. These variables are very precise and allow for clean

evaluation when seeking any correlations that may exist.

In order to gain a better understanding of the young voters the study looked into the

different issues that are currently important to voters between 18- and 29-years-old. There are

many issues that Presidential candidates could give their position and propose solutions to, but

what are the issues that young voters want to hear them speak about? Young people may not

want to hear about the same issues that the older generations are concerned about.

Another way this study will help aid in the understanding of young voters is to ask what

qualities are important to them when selecting a President of the United States. This will allow

politicians to evaluate themselves and make sure that they amplify these qualities when

campaigning for any type of election. The qualities found in this section are not solely for

Presidential candidates, they apply to anybody running for a public office.

Research Questions and Hypotheses

How are young voters, 18- to 29-year-olds, affected by the relationship between

demographics, current issues, and candidate qualities in respect to actual young voter turnout?

This question can only be answered by taking a deeper look into the follow questions:

Research Questions

The first research question: What is the Presidential election turnout of 18- to 29-year-

olds between 1972 and 2004?

The second research question: What demographic factors affect the participation of

young voters in the voting process?

 Laura Blevins 13

The third research question: What issues are important to young voters?

The fourth research question: What are positive qualities within a political candidate that

are important to young voters?

Hypotheses

The first hypothesis: The first hypothesis will examine how many individuals between

18- and 29-years-old do turn out on election days during Presidential election years to cast their

vote.

The second hypothesis: The second hypothesis will examine what correlations exist

between 18- and 29-years-old that may affect their active participation in the voting processes.

The third hypothesis: The third hypothesis will examine the test in regards to important

issues for 18- to 29-year-olds.

The fourth hypothesis: The fourth hypothesis will investigate positive qualities that are

held in a higher regard according to individuals between 18- and 29-years-old.

Significance of the Study

This study intended to understand the young voter. In understanding the young voter,

politicians will be able to begin tapping into this group. Voting is a responsibility of the citizens

of the United States that should not be taken lightly no matter how young or old of an individual.

Typically, young voters are not a group from which politicians strive to obtain their votes.

Young voters are labeled as inconsistent and tend to not vote when it comes down to election

day.

In the current presidential race, a huge emphasis is being placed on the young voters and

their influence. Young voters are a large population and that is a reason why candidates should

reach out to them (“A Guide,” n.d.). These young voters are impressionable and looking for a
 Laura Blevins 14

place to call home in politics and once they decide on a party most of them remain loyal

throughout their voting careers (“A Guide,” n.d.). These young people are also our future and in

the future the United States is going to need them to be strong leaders within the political realm

(“A Guide,” n.d.). As a result, there needed to be an investigation to find out which people within

the group of potential young voters actually vote. Further, the research attempted to understand

the issues that are important to this group of voters. The study examined why young voters do

not vote.

As a young voter, I take the duty of voting very seriously and believe that young people

need to realize that they must become active in politics and government today, because what

happens today affects our future. There are many issues relative to young citizens‟ everyday

lives as well as their future that they are not worried about. These young voters need to educate

themselves to try and make a change in the United States of America.

There are people in other countries that wish they could vote for their political officials

and cannot. Instead, they are ruled with an iron fist and do not have a voice within their

government. If these citizens speak out against the government they must face the consequences.

The repercussions of their actions could range anywhere from spending some time in jail to

execution. Why should we, as Americans, take for granted a freedom and responsibility of which

citizens in other countries can only dream?

Research Design and Methodology

Design

For the study quantitative and qualitative analytical methods were used. Empirical

research methods (deriving results from experimentation) were also used because although there
 Laura Blevins 15

is an abundance of information the literature does not ask the specific questions that this study

has raised to the same group of individuals.

In order to conduct the research most efficiently, an array of data collection sources were

used. Strayer University provides its students with access to its research databases via the

Internet. Periodicals, published books relevant to the topic of this thesis, and previously

conducted published research, were used. Additionally, personal interviews were obtained to aid

with the research. Interviews are important to the research, because it allows for an open

environment where the interviewee can explain their responses. If, for some reason, the response

is not clear the interviewer can ask the participant to clarify. Six young voters were interviewed.

Methodology

Sample

The sample for this study consists of a group of 64 young people between the ages of 18

and 29. This group of individuals had different levels of education and perspectives on voting.

Instrument

A survey entitled, Young Voter Participation Survey, comprised of 12 open-ended

questions developed by the author was used. The questions addressed general demographics(sex

and age), as well as level of education, voting habits, explanations for these habits, whether the

participants felt their votes count, and characteristics participants looked for in a candidate. The

survey was distributed via electronic mail. Participants answered survey questions by typing in

their responses and sent them back to the author via electronic mail. The responses were then

input into an Excel™ sheet where the data was analyzed.

 Laura Blevins 16

Unit of Focus

Young voters‟ perceptions in relation to the voting process and candidates running for

office were the focus of this study. Data was analyzed to determine what, if any, correlations

existed between the voting habits of young voters and education. The data also determined what

issues and characteristics within a political candidate are important to young voters.

Limitations of Study

The limitations within the study resided in the amount of responses received from the

Young Voter Participation Survey. Sixty-four young voters responded to the survey that was

administered. As a result, there were only three participants who had a masters degree. The

results from these three individuals did not follow the trends that were observed when analyzing

the data that was gathered from the other individuals in respect to education levels. Therefore,

the results from the participants who had a masters degree did not represent the population and

the data collected was not valid.

Another limitation existed within the interviews that were conducted to aid this study. Six

interviews were conducted and the ages were spread out among the young voter population. The

gender and education levels were not equally spread out. Four females were interviewed and

only two males were represented. Three of the interviewees had only completed high school, two

had some college and one had finished her bachelors degree. Some would say that gender and

education level were not equally represented in the interviews.

Organization of the Study

Research for this study will be explained in the following eight chapters:
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Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter is designed to outline the purpose of the study. The hypothesis and research

questions have been laid out in a concise manner that is easy to read and understand. The chapter

also goes onto explain why the study is important and who it will benefit from findings and

conclusions.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the different pieces of literary

work relative to the topic of this thesis. There are many forms of literature that one may use

when researching and they include: books, previously published research, periodicals, journals

etc. Much knowledge is to be gained through literature written by different people on the same

topic.

Chapter 3: Young Voter Turnout during Presidential Elections

This chapter analyzes the actual numbers of young voters who turned out and in

comparison to the other groups of voters. The chapter will go into detail about all of the different

groups of voters and the turnout of each to the polls on election days.

Chapter 4: Demographics that Affect Young Voter Participation

This chapter explains the findings in relation to the different levels of education for

young voters. Any correlations relevant to young voter turnout at the poles and education levels

will be discussed. The research will also examine education levels of young voters and their

opinions about politics.

Chapter 5: Issues of Importance to Young Voters

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze data collected from young voters and current

literature to determine the issues important to young American voters.

 Laura Blevins 18

Chapter 6: Positive Characteristics of a Politician

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the data collected which identified the

characteristics young voters are looking for in their future representative, town, county, state

and/or national levels. In order to appeal to the younger generation, one must understand

candidate characteristics voters are looking for in the individuals who will represent them.

Chapter 7: Summary

This chapter gives a recapitulation of the findings discussed in each chapter. The

summary will be where the reader will be able to understand the main points of the research in a

concise manner.

Chapter 8: Conclusion

The purpose of this chapter is to pull all of the findings from the research together and

allow a conclusion to be reached relative to the research questions and data collected.

Recommendations for future politicians to campaign and aim for the young voters and older

voters will also be included in this chapter.

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CHAPTER TWO

Review of Related Literature

What We Think: Young Voters Speak Out, edited by Dean Robbins and Rob Grabow, is

a published book which contains a collection of 99 essays and different writings from young

voters between the ages of 18 and 24. These writings capture the political views of people within

this age group of voters, from various geographic, demographic, and political backgrounds.

Many of these young writers were moved to write about the war and how it has affected

their generation and themselves as individuals. Brian Fanelli, is one of the individuals that

decided to write about the war (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). Brian tells a story about a young man

named Paul Johnson that stands on the corner with a few others to protest the war that is taking

place in his country everyday (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). Paul is very passionate about the idea

that war is not the answer (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). He had a secret though that he was afraid

to tell his fellow protestors until one day he received the phone call (Robbins & Grabow, 2004).

He was called to go fight in the war that he had been protesting (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). The

only reason that he was enlisted was so he could pursue a college education, because he did not

have the money to go to school on his own (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). Many youths in America

join ROTC programs while in college to aid in the financial burden that higher education creates.

Some of these educated people decided to write about today‟s society in general and how

it has affected their young generation. One gentleman named Stephan Schwartz, wrote about

celebrities and their influence on the American society (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). He explained

how the American public is obsessed with what celebrities are doing, and the late breaking news

for the day (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). He also references how politics today have evolved into
 Laura Blevins 20

more of an entertainment state due to Saturday Night Live and other late night television shows

(Robbins & Grabow, 2004).

Others chose to write about partisanship and the election. Veronica Penciakova, wrote an

essay entitled, “Dear Candidate” (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). This essay is a letter she is writing

to the political candidates. In this letter she explains how the public and politicians view the

young voter as self-absorbed, out of touch young people that do not vote, because they are too

busy with their personal lives to cast their ballot (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). She then educates

the candidate as to why young people do not vote and that is because the politicians have stopped

caring (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). Veronica tells the candidate that young people do not care

about the past and what is so bad about the other candidate; they want to know what the plan is

for the future and they want the politicians to do their jobs and stop blaming everyone else for

their own failures (Robbins & Grabow, 2004).

Since the study wanted to understand the young voter population and what is important to

them, What We Think: Young Voters Speak Out is unique because it does just that. Young

voters are allowed a means to have their voices heard.

Next, the textbook entitled, Constitutional Law for a Changing America is written by Lee

Epstein and Thomas G. Walker (2000) and this book gives insight on the different voter

movements over the course of the United States history. This literature is an excellent piece to

understand the different dynamics and court hearings over the right to vote in the United States.

As the voting process stands today every citizen over the age of 18 that is registered to vote may

vote (Epstein & Walker, 2000). This was not how it was years ago. There were three dynamic

movements for people obtain the right to vote with America: the black vote, women‟s suffrage,

and the 18 to 21-year-old vote (Epstein & Walker, 2000).

 Laura Blevins 21

It is important for one to understand the history of the right to vote before researching

current voting habits. This study is researching the voting trends of young voters and what they

are looking for when participating in the voting process. In order to fully understand young

voters and their right to vote it is important to understand all of the voting suffrages.

Each suffrage affects the current young voters today. If it was not for the black vote

movement no citizen of color would be able to vote today. The women‟s movement also allows

all women no matter what their age to vote, therefore, it affects the young vote, not to forget the

18 to 21-year-old vote. This movement directly affects the current young voters. If it was not for

this movement the term „young voter‟ would be defined completely different than how it is

today.

Strayers‟ on-line databases provided a large amount of literature for this area of research.

Numerous journals and newspaper articles can be accessed through the databases. One example

is an article in Esquire magazine called, Rock the Vote 2.0 (Smith, 2007).

Heather Smith is the author of this article, but she is also the director of the organization

Rock the Vote. This organization is one that is well known to the young voter population today.

This organization targets young voters and does not tell them who to vote for, but rather

encourages them to just get out and vote. They help young people to realize that their vote does

count and the importance of voting.

Rock the Vote has attempted to reach young voters through the use of media such as

MTV and by using celebrities to promote voting, because young people look to celebrities for

how they should act and what they should do. The Rock the Vote organization conducts polls of

young voters to see how many are coming out and to see if their techniques are working and if

not they reevaluate what they need to do to get the young voters out.
 Laura Blevins 22

In Rock the Vote 2.0, Smith examines how to get the young people not only motivated to

vote, but also excited about the process and key issues. Part of understanding the young voter is

knowing what it will take to motivate them to vote. If you do not know what it will take to get

young voters to the polls and what issues interest them, then a candidate will never be able tap

into this group of voters. A primary reason that Smith‟s article is especially relevant to this study

is that she is focusing on the 2008 presidential election. This study is focusing on current young

voters. There are many reasons to believe that the young voters of today can have a large impact

on politics if they were to vote.

According to Rock the Vote 2.0, there will be 44 million eligible voters in 2008 between

the ages of 18 and 29 (Smith, 2007). This is a remarkable amount of voters. This young

population that is eligible to vote in 2008 will represent a quarter of the electorate (Smith, 2007).

Smith goes into detail in regards to what methods motivate young voters. She explains that

young voters need face to face interaction with the campaigns, not just telephone calls (Smith,

2007). Another piece of vital information found through Rock the Vote research is normally if a

party catches these young voters while they are still young the party will have their loyalty for

life (Smith, 2007). “The first vote is the defining vote” (Smith, 2007).

This article goes on to explain the truths about young voters. One fact is, the young voters

in general are not the selfish, materialistic people that they are assumed to be (Smith, 2007).

These voters are very diverse and have rich backgrounds that have an affect on their decisions

and passions of life (Smith, 2007). The issues that are important to the young voter right now are

jobs, the economy, health care, and college expenses (Smith, 2007). Many of these issues affect

them, but they also affect their friends and family members, so they cannot be that self-absorbed.
 Laura Blevins 23

An article entitled, The Missing Link: Exploring the Relationship Between Higher

Education and Political Engagement, is an article that directly deals with my research. Hillygus

acknowledges that it is a well known fact that education levels affect political participation

(2005). The question is why do education levels affect political participation? (Hillygus, 2005).

That is the question that Hillygus seeks to answer through research.

This article helps give insight to the research that has been conducted for this thesis.

Hillygus is not satisfied with the finding that education levels affect political participation, so he

conducted his own study to explain why the statement is true. The research that was conducted

did not go into that much detail as to find out why education levels affect political participation,

therefore, this information enlightens the reader and supports the research.

Another article that will be helpful in my research is, The Contented Young (Barone,

2007). It focuses on the young people and where they stand in respect to the current president,

George W. Bush, and the Republican Party.

Although, party affiliation of young voters is not a focus of this study, this article

provides insight as to why these voters are not happy with the current president. For instance,

many young voters have become very passionate about the war in Iraq (Barone, 2007). Many

young people do not approve of the war and the reasons behind the United States military being

in Iraq (Barone, 2007). However, there is the other side of young voters that have been to Iraq

and understand why the United States is there (Barone, 2007). Many of these people have served

in Iraq and many of them have re-enlisted at higher rates than what was expected (Barone, 2007).

This piece of literature also elaborates on various aspects of young voters‟ backgrounds

and why they have their views. Barone explains how today‟s youth has not been exposed to “bad

times” (2007). “Bad times” refers to a weak economy, war time and anything else that would put
 Laura Blevins 24

the stability of the country in danger. The young people of today have lived in a very sound and

stable economy where their parents had good secure jobs and everybody lived comfortably

(Barone, 2007). It is the “bad times” that will make a group of people passionate about

something and motivate them to take action to change it or keep it the same, depending on their

view of the situation. The young population is starting to get a taste of this due to the terrorist

attacks that happened September 11th, the war in Iraq, and now the failing economy. In order to

reach out to a group of people, one must understand these issues as to where the young people

came from, which will influence where they will go in the future. If an individual does not

understand this then they will never be able to successfully appeal to those people.

Many young voters do not understand that what happens today in respect to political

agendas will affect them when they are older and in need of government benefits (Barone, 2007).

This article references social security and the future crisis that is approaching the United States

citizens. Barone explains how today‟s 21-year-old will be 55 in the year 2041, and social

security will only be paying 75 percent of their benefits (2007). That is a problem that needs to

be dealt with now and the young voter needs to understand that it is important right now, because

if they wait till they are of age to collect social security, it will be too late.

The National Journal had an article, The Electorate: Young Americans, written by Gwen

Glazer. In this article, Glazer discusses young voters and their viewpoints, and references relative

surveys that have been conducted. Glazer explains how people think that young voters differ

from the older electorate. In this article, she also provides examples and evidence to support that

young voters are not so different from the older electorate in many of their viewpoints.

There are many issues that are important to the American citizens: abortion, health care,

global warming, and handgun control (Glazer, 2007). In respect to these hot button issues both
 Laura Blevins 25

the young and older voters seem to agree on where to stand (Glazer, 2007). Glazer did touch on

the gay marriage issue that seems to be very controversial with the American public. Forty-four

percent of young voters believe that gay people should be allowed to marry compared to 34

percent of adults (Glazer, 2007). Another hot button issue that seems to be controversial is the

war in Iraq. Many young voters view the Iraq War as the hot issue that is facing their generation

(Glazer, 2007).

Young Voters Beat a Path Toward a Politics of Morals (Pinkus, 2006) is another article

that references young voters. Pinkus is only referencing young voters‟ ages 18- to 24-years-old.

It is suggested in this article that young voters are moral people, who are looking for moral

leaders, and possess views with moral bases. The article focuses on college students and their

response to a 2006 Harvard Poll conducted to determine young voters‟ responses to topics not

normally touched in political polls. Topics typically covered in political polls relate to abortion,

gay marriage and stem-cell research (Pinkus, 2006). The 2006 Harvard Poll asked young voters

about current topics such as natural disasters, war and education (Pinkus, 2006). The 2006

Harvard Poll found that young people between the ages of 18- and 24-years have a strong

interest in spirituality (Pinkus, 2006).

This article references how more college students are actually voting and in the 2004

election more than 11 million young voters (18-24) voted (Pinkus, 2006). This sounds like an

enormous amount of people, but in the scheme of the whole population that voted in 2004 the

young voter turnout only represented 9 percent of the American population that turned out

(Pinkus, 2006). This is still a large jump from previous voting years for this age group (Pinkus,

2006). In order keep these numbers up and to appeal to the youth Pinkus explains that Internet
 Laura Blevins 26

profiles for future political candidates will become a vital tool when reaching out to this young

group of voters, because that is where they seek much of their information (2006).

In USA Today (November 7, 2006), an article entitled, Young Voters Speak, But Who

Listens? The piece was written by numerous young voters in response to an ad placed in USA

Today to solicit young voters written views about politics. This article contains direct feedback

from young voters across the United States about any topic within the political arena that they

chose to discuss.

When people‟s responses are not restricted, what is truly important to them can be

determined. A highly structured question places restrictions on people‟s responses typically

resulting in narrow feedback, which could lack not only specificity about certain topics, but also

entire topics not touched upon in structured surveys. This article is a vital insight to the young

voters on the United States.

Ben Weinberg is a Senior at Case Western Reserve University and he wrote in explaining

that many young people do not vote because they do not feel that there has been a candidate

worth voting for (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006). He also explains that he feels that his vote is a

vital tool and he does not want to use it to vote for the “lesser-of-two-evils”, he would rather not

cast his vote (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006). Ben states that the candidates, while running for

political office, never state where they stand (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006). Instead, they always

point out what their opponent does not stand for and he feels that if the candidates would focus

on their own issues and campaigns politics would be much easier (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006).

Matthew Tumpney from Rocky Hill, Connecticut explains that war consumes the media

therefore; the other important issues are put off to the side and not discussed (“Young Voters

Speak,” 2006). Another young voter named Joshua Reynolds wrote into discuss the idea that
 Laura Blevins 27

both parties need to set aside their differences and focus on the issues and what would be best for

the American citizens (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006).

Josh Cornwall believes that the younger generation is jaded (“Young Voters Speak,”

2006). He sees his generation as having to do damage control for the country rather than trying to

guide the country to a better state (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006). Finally, Keith Davis from

Pennsylvania states that the young Americans want personal responsibility from political

candidates (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006). Keith explains that young voters want to be able to

make decisions for themselves; they want a smaller government that gives guidance to its

citizens (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006).

In an article entitled It‟s Their Turn Now (Von Drehle, Tumulty, Bowers, Healy,

Kloberdanz & Horwath, 2008), the fact that young voters are key in the upcoming presidential

election is elaborated. Voters under 30 years of age are the focus in this article, which goes on to

explain the impact that they could make on this election.

This article also goes into detail about Barack Obama‟s campaign, especially in relation

to how he is successfully reaching out to young voters. Young voters are turning out to vote for

him in the primaries. His campaign strategies seem to demonstrate an understanding of the

power of young voters, and he is using it to his benefit.

The authors of this article state that Obama‟s campaign is the first in a long time if not at

all to be carried by the young voters of America (Von Drehle et al, 2008). This is a huge step for

both politicians and young voters of America, especially now that Obama has taken the

Democratic Presidential ticket. While running his campaign, Obama, has put much thought into

how to grasp the young vote (Von Drehle et al., 2008). He hired Hans Reimer, a Rock the Vote

veteran, to help reach out to the young voters, and he made the young people who attended his
 Laura Blevins 28

rallies feel special by inviting them for some one on one time with him (Von Drehle et al., 2008).

If only everyone in the political arena could do this as well.

An article in which information is provided to explain the recent surge in young voters is

entitled Youth enthusiastic for voice in primary (Emerling & Bellantoni, 2008). In this article,

the public is enlightened to the fact that young voters are beginning to realize they do have a

voice and they can make a difference as a voter. The article goes on to explain that young voters

are beginning to realize this as a result of increased media attention and candidates starting to

reach out to them as a campaign strategy.

When this article was written the United States was still in the primary election phase.

Both the Democrats and Republicans had two candidates fighting for the party nomination at this

time (Emerling & Bellantoni, 2008). The Republicans had Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator

John McCain; on the other side, the Democrats had Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary

Clinton (Emerling & Bellantoni, 2008). All of the candidates visited colleges in the Maryland,

D.C. area to get them motivated to go out and vote during the primaries (Emerling & Bellantoni,

2008).

Rock the Vote‟s Volume VIII of their polling that was published in February of 2008 and

is a resource that will be used for my research. This organization has been working with young

voters for years. This poll evaluates people from the ages of 18 to 29 on everything from if they

are paying attention to the campaigns to what issues are important to them. Much of the

information collected by Rock the Vote is quantitative and can be easily analyzed.

According to Rock the Vote 74 percent of young voters and paying attention to the 2008

presidential campaigns compared to 42 percent in 2004 (2008). These figures are astonishing in

regards to surge of young voters tuned into the current campaigns. There are many issues that are
 Laura Blevins 29

going on in the United States that the presidential candidates should address in their campaigns.

There are three top issues that young voters feel are the most important: the economy, education,

and Iraq (Rock the Vote, 2008). These are the topics that young voters want to hear the

presidential candidates discuss while on the campaign trail.

MSNBC is a news outlet that allows people to obtain the current events through different

portals. They utilize the television and Internet. The Internet site is very helpful when obtaining

current information in print, especially when it comes to politics. MSNBC is a reliable source of

current events that has been established for many years.

Another resource located on the Internet is research published by colleges and

universities. For instance, George Washington University has a Graduate School of Political

Management that conducted research entitled Young Voter Mobilization Tactics (n.d.). This

research resulted in a handbook on how to reach the young voters. If one is able to mobilize

young voters, then they are reaching them and getting them interested and involved in politics

and voting.

This research gives statistical data and case studies from the different 2006 campaigns.

To understand the present in order to change the future, one needs to fully comprehend past

events and practices, thereby allowing for a move forward resulting in change. Comparing the

2002 and 2006 elections young voters increased by two million in the 2006 election, that is a 25

percent increase (“Young Voter Mobilization,” n.d.). These statistics are vital when trying to

understand young voter turnout and what is happening among the young voters. In order to reach

out to the young people to motivate them to vote candidates must bring their campaigns to the

young voters (“Young Voter Mobilization,” n.d.). This includes, going to their schools, state
 Laura Blevins 30

fairs, organized happy hours, going door-to-door, anywhere that there is a large population of

young people (“Young Voter Mobilization,” n.d.).

Another resource is The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and

Engagement (CIRCLE) conducts research on politics and young Americans (2008B). This

organization has brought to light the fact that it is beneficial for campaigns to mobilize young

voters ages 18- to 29-years-old (CIRCLE, 2008B). CIRCLE has also begun to change the view

of young voters in the media (2008B). Many institutions turn to CIRCLE to obtain research data

to aid in their research, because this organization is known for their unbiased and reliable

information (2008B).

CIRCLE contains a wealth of information pertaining to the study of young voter turnout

during presidential election years. They not only have the turnout percentages for voters ages 18-

to 29-years-old, but they also have records for the voter turnout of the 30 and older population

(CIRCLE, 2008A). This information will not only show the rates of the young voter turnout, but

it will allow the comparison between the two groups of voters.

Harvard University is another institution that conducts surveys and research. Their

Institute of Politics has published research entitled A Guide to Reaching Young Voters: Are You

Talking to Me? (n.d.). Harvard University‟s Institute of Politics has taken time to sit down and

talk to young voters to find out exactly what they look for when it comes to politics and future

leaders. This research goes into depth on what young voters want to hear about and where they

stand when it comes to their views and what they expect from the government. Most young

voters do not place themselves within the traditional political labels (“A Guide,” n.d.).

This research also dives into the question of why young voters matter. One large reason

why young voters matter is because they are a large population in the United States (“A Guide,”
 Laura Blevins 31

n.d.). These young voters do vote and they are very interested and engaged in their communities

(“A Guide,” n.d.). Young voters are impressionable and looking for a place to call home in

politics and once they decide on a party most of them remain loyal throughout their voting

careers (“A Guide,” n.d.). These young people are also our future and the United States needs

them to become strong and active leaders (“A Guide,” n.d.).

Harvard University‟s Institute of Politics also researched what obstacles young people

face that could inhibit them from casting their vote. Many young people do not have the parental

political role model in their homes (“A Guide,” n.d.). This population does not discuss politics

and current issues with their parents, therefore, they do not know that it is important to vote,

because they do not see it from their parents (“A Guide,” n.d.). Another obstacle is the idea that

schools are not teaching civics anymore and many young people see the voting process as very

cumbersome and hard to understand (“A Guide,” n.d.).

Young people today do not want to be spoon fed with what politicians “think” they want

to hear, instead they want to hear the truth (“A Guide,” n.d.). Youths want politicians to be

positive and focus on their own campaigns, rather than worrying about what the other candidate

is not doing (“A Guide,” n.d.). Basically, in order to grab onto the young voters the candidates

just need to keep it simple and real (“A Guide,” n.d.).

When it comes to reaching this Young American population there are many avenues one

can travel, but the most vital one is through grassroots outreach (“A Guide,” n.d.). This entails

many people working for the candidate to get as much face-to-face time with the young voters

(“A Guide,” n.d.). Another way to reach the youth is through the media, but this does not mean

just through the conventional media outlets (“A Guide,” n.d.). Young people use the Internet
 Laura Blevins 32

everyday to gather information and stay connected as well as their cell phones; these two

mediums are the new media that must be infiltrated to reach them (“A Guide,” n.d.).

Chapter Summary

The purpose of this study is to analyze young voters and how education level affects their

views on voting. This study seeks to understand the different issues that are important to the

young voters as well as the qualities that they look for when voting for a political candidate. The

final purpose of this study is to determine whether young voters do actually vote. There are many

contemporary forms of literature that support this area of research and validate the reason for

studying young voters. The studies findings will increase the understanding of the young voter

and allow future political candidates the information needed to grab the young voter‟s attention

as well as their votes in future elections.

 Laura Blevins 33

CHAPTER THREE

Young Voter Turnout during Presidential Elections

The term „young voters‟ describes people between the ages of 18- and 29-years old. This

was not the case 37 years ago, when individuals under the age of 21 were not considered old

enough to vote. It was not until 1971, when the 26th Amendment was ratified, that individuals

between the ages of 18 and 21 were allowed to vote (Epstein et al., 2000).

The first presidential election in which these new young voters were allowed to cast their

ballots was in 1972 (Smith, 2007). During this election, young voters came out to vote in

significant numbers. In the thirty years since that momentous election, the number of young

voters who participate in presidential elections has continued to decline (Smith, 2007).

With the 2008 presidential election fast approaching, many people are questioning

whether young voters will turn out as anticipated by the media. Forty-four million young voters

will be eligible to cast their votes during the 2008 presidential election (Smith, 2007). According

to Smith (2007), this “Millennial Generation”(p208), will make up about a quarter of the

electorate during this upcoming election.

Another resource is The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and

Engagement (CIRCLE) conducts research on politics and young Americans (2008B). This

organization has brought to light the fact that it is beneficial for campaigns to mobilize young

voters ages 18- to 29-years-old (CIRCLE, 2008B). CIRCLE has also begun to change the view

of young voters in the media (2008B). Many institutions turn to CIRCLE to obtain research data

to aid in their research, because this organization is known for their unbiased and reliable

information (2008B).
 Laura Blevins 34

CIRCLE has a wealth of information pertaining to the study of young voter turnout

during years in which presidential elections were held. This organization has a spreadsheet that

gives the percentage of voters that turned out to vote from 1972 to the 2004 presidential election

(CIRCLE, 2008a). There are three different sets of data from which CIRCLE derive percentages:

census citizen method, census age eligible, and the CIRCLE method. The census citizen form of

analyses was used in this study.

According to Emily Kirby, Senior Research Associate at CIRCLE, the census citizen

numbers are calculated using the US Census reports (personal communication, August 8, 2008).

The US Census is taken once every ten years by the US Census Bureau (US Census, 2008). The

census is a survey of various demographic questions sent out to the citizens of the United States

in order for the government to obtain a snapshot of the population during that time (US Census,

2008). The most current census took place in the year 2000 (US Census, 2008). Ms. Kirby

explained that the census citizen method as CIRCLE takes all of the population that is eligible to

vote by age and citizenship. Using those numbers, CIRCLE calculates the percentages of voter

turnout (personal communication, August 8, 2008). Once Ms. Kirby explained the method it was

evident that the census citizen method was the best one to use for this research. It was also the

method recommended by Ms Kirby, since the percentages are derived from only those citizens

that are able to cast their vote (personal communication, August 8, 2008).

Once the census citizen percentages have been analyzed and placed into a graphic format,

these numbers can be easily compared and examined (see Figure 1).
 Laura Blevins 35

Figure 1. Voter Turnout in Presidential Election Years.

80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0% 18-29 year
40.0% olds
30.0% 30+
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
1972

1976
1980

1984

1988
1992

1996
2000

2004
Through visual examination of the data in graphic form, it is apparent that the highest

participation from 18- to 29-year-olds occurred in 1972, with a turnout of approximately 55%

(see Figure 1). This was the first election during which 18- to 21-year-olds were allowed to vote.

Participation from young voters dropped significantly in the 1976 presidential election and

continued to drop until 1988 (see Figure 1). Participation in 1992 jumped up to a little over 50

percent voter participation, but dropped drastically in 1996 to the lowest it has ever been at 40

percent (see Figure 1). During the next two presidential elections (i.e., 2000 and 2004), an

increasing number of young voters exercised their right to vote (see Figure 1). The 2004

presidential election young voter turnout was 49 percent (see Figure 1).

When analyzing the data in Figure 1 and comparing the young voters to their older

counterparts, an observable and parallel pattern is apparent. The primary difference between the

two groups is that the young voters are turning out from 10 to 30 percent less than the older

generation of voters (see Figure 1). There is an exception to this and that is the 1980 presidential

election (see Figure 1). The 30 and older turnout increased slightly during this election while the

18- to 29-year-old turnout decreased slightly (see Figure 1).

 Laura Blevins 36

Young voters do vote; however, it is apparent that their turnout rate is well below the 30

and older voters. This means that the statement “Young voters do not vote” is untrue. Instead, the

statement should read “Young voters do vote, but at lower rates than older voters.” This is the

group that should be focused on when campaigning and trying to understand the general belief

that young voters do not vote.

There are many reasons that many young voters do not exercise their right to vote. Ben

Weinberg, who is a student at Case Western Reserve University in his senior year, states that

there are very few candidates that are worth supporting and voting for (“Young Voters Speak,”

2006). He also explains how it is very cumbersome to find the candidates positions on issues.

Today, most candidates are so worried about pointing out the negative in their opponent they

forget to speak on the issues, clearly identify where they stand on the issues, and discuss their

plan of action for each issue (“Young Voters Speak,” 2006).

In the Young Voter Participation Survey, that was administered to assist this research,

young voters were asked: “Do you plan to vote this presidential election? Why or why

not?”(Blevins, 2008). These questions were asked in an open-ended manner so the individual

would not have any constraints on their response. Rather they could write anything they felt they

needed to in order to fully answer the question. There were many people that expressed their

intent to vote while others did not plan to vote. The young voters that do plan to vote in the 2008

presidential election had many different reasons why they plan to vote. For many of the young

voters, it will be there first time they cast their ballot and have their voice heard in the political

arena. This was the most common reason why all of the 18- to 20-year-olds are planning to vote

in the upcoming election. As for the other ages, they believe voting is an important right that

should be exercised and they wanted to voice their opinion.

 Laura Blevins 37

The group that does not plan to vote this presidential election consisted of the individuals

who may provide insight into why young voters do not demonstrate the same turnout rate as their

older counterparts. When reviewing their responses, 55 percent of the people that responded that

they have no time. There were a number of other responses: not registered, do not like the

candidates, and not educated about the candidates.

The people that responded they do not have time, the question arises what they do not

have time for. Is it the actual voting that they do not have time for or are they not registered? Or

could it be that they do not have time to educate themselves about the current competitors?

Nonetheless, all of these responses say the same thing; these young people feel that the whole

process of voting takes up a great deal of time. The voting process includes registering to vote,

educating themselves about the candidates so they can make an educated decision, and cast their

vote.

Another question that was asked in the survey that could help shed light on the young

voter issue was: “Do politics interest you? Why or why not?” (Blevins, 2008). This question was

also asked in an open-ended format to allow everyone the opportunity to give their full answer

and opinion on the topic. Responses to the first question (i.e., “Do politics interest you?”) were

evenly split with 50 percent responding that they were interested in politics and 50 percent

responding that they were not.

From the yes responses there were different explanations for their answer. The majority

of the people believed that politics affected their lives; therefore, they were interested in politics.

Some of the other responses stated that it is important to choose competent leaders, the future of

the country is troublesome, and knowing what is going on in the world is preferred. These
 Laura Blevins 38

answers allow people to understand the different lights in which young people view the political

machine of the United States, because the young voters are able to explain their responses.

Once again the people who answered that they are not interested in politics tend to be

where the focus lies in my research. While it is great that some young voters are interested, focus

should be placed on understanding the reason why other young voters are not interested in

politics. There were many different responses from this group of people as to why they are not

interested in politics. The top three responses were that “politics are boring”, “hard to follow”,

and “too much to keep up with”. Once again, these three responses are saying the same thing in

different words. Candidates are not speaking to the young voters. If the candidates were speaking

to them then it would not be boring and hard to follow.

Of the 50 percent who expressed the non-interest in politics, 12 of them said that they do

plan to vote this presidential election. The people who replied that politics are interesting, two

answered that they do not plan to vote this presidential election. These findings show that just

because people are not interested in politics does not mean that they do not vote.

Motivating the Young Voters

Another question that must be answered when trying to find out if young voters vote and

why or why not, is how does a candidate and their campaign motivate these young voters to

come out and cast their ballots on election day? In an article written in the Academic Search

Premier it was stated that in order to appeal to the youth Internet profiles are vital for future

candidates (Pinkus, 2006). Pinkus explains that the Internet is the vital tool where today‟s youth

seek much of their information (2006).

The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management conducted

a study and gave their findings on how to reach out to the young voters. They found that the
 Laura Blevins 39

candidates must bring their campaigns to the young voters in order to motivate them to vote

(“Young Voter Mobilization,” n.d.). The findings showed that the campaigns must take it to a

more personal level when getting the young voters motivated (“Young Voter Mobilization,”

n.d.). This includes, going to their schools, state fairs, organized happy hours, going door-to-

door, anywhere that there is a large population of young people (“Young Voter Mobilization,”

n.d.).

According to Harvard University‟s Institute of Politics young voters just want the

politicians to keep it real and simple with them (“A Guide,” n.d.). When it comes to reaching this

Young American population there are many avenues one can travel, but the most vital one is

through grassroots outreach (“A Guide,” n.d.). This entails many people working for the

candidate to get as much face-to-face time with the young voters (“A Guide,” n.d.). Another way

to reach the youth is through the media, but this does not mean just through the conventional

media outlets (“A Guide,” n.d.). Young people use the Internet everyday to gather information

and stay connected as well as their cell phones; these two mediums are the new media that must

be infiltrated to reach them (“A Guide,” n.d.).

Chapter Summary

Young voters are stereotyped within the United States media and politics. Many believe

that young voters do not vote and that is not the case at all. Through research it is found that

young voters do vote, just not at the same rate as voters age 30 and older. The research finds that

young voters have a turnout rate that is anywhere from 10 to 30 percent below their older

counterparts.

There are many reasons given by young voters for their lack of participation. Many

young people who do not choose to vote gave the reason that they do not have time for it. These
 Laura Blevins 40

voters see the voting process as cumbersome; therefore, they would rather not participate. For the

young voters that are not interested in politics, they view politics as a field that is boring and

hard to follow.

It is evident that the new generation of voters is seeking their information from new

technology and as a result campaigns must turn their attention to those portals of information in

order to reach the young voters. These new areas of resources include the Internet and cell

phones. Also, in order to motivate these young voters the candidates must take their campaigns

back to the grassroots level of campaigning and start making it more personal. The young people

want a familiar face and personal communication to place with the campaigns.

These findings are crucial when trying to understand why young voters that do not

participate in the voting process. The more information that is gathered about these young people

the more campaigns can reach out to them and bring them to the voting polls.
 Laura Blevins 41

CHAPTER FOUR

Demographics that Affect Young Voter Participation

A survey was administered to 64 people between the ages of 18- and 29-years-old. The

questions they were asked that are reflected in this chapter include:

1. Do politics interest you?

2. Do you plan to vote this presidential election?

3. Do you feel as if your vote counts?

These questions include demographic questions as well as research questions. The answers from

each of the research questions were analyzed based upon the different demographics in hopes to

find some kind of correlation that may exist among the different demographics.

Education Survey Findings

Education can affect many different aspects of people‟s lives. For example, many people

that have a higher education end up obtaining better jobs. The question that is being posed in this

area is: Does education level have any influence on young voters? This analysis looked at how

education levels may have affected a young person‟s interest in politics, whether that person

plans to vote this presidential election, and if a person feels as if their one vote counts.

According to the survey data gathered, individuals with a higher education level tend to

be more interested in politics (see Appendix B). The change starts to occur once individuals have

been exposed to some form of college education. Appendix B illustrates this point.

When analyzing Appendix C, the interest in politics from people with only a high school

education is a mere 25 percent. Interest in politics increases to 53 percent with individuals that

have some college education. Interest in individuals who have a bachelors degree jumps up to 83
 Laura Blevins 42

percent. There is a 30 percent increase from people who have some college education to

individuals who possess a bachelors degree.

Next question is whether education levels affect a person‟s belief in whether they feel

their vote counts? Responses to the survey demonstrate that the majority of people, no matter

their education level, believe that their vote does count (see Appendix D).

Another question that needs to be answered relevant to researching the topic of young

voters is whether people between the ages of 18- to 29-years-old intend to vote in the 2008

presidential election. Findings relative to this question were not clear-cut when analyzed by

education levels. There are two groups of education levels that answered 100 percent they did

not plan to vote this presidential election: those with less than a high school education and the

people who have an associates degree (see Appendix E). The only two groups that have more

people planning to vote this presidential election is individuals that have some college and the

individuals who have obtained their bachelors degree (see Appendix E).

According to Hillygus it has always been found that higher education levels lead to

increased political participation (2005). Education levels not only affect the turnout rates of

voters but also their political attitudes, behavior, and knowledge (Hillygus, 2005). Hillygus

conducted research as to why education levels positively affect turnout rates within voters and

why it is the strongest predictor in voter participation (2005).

There are three different hypotheses for this research. One is the civic education

hypothesis which states education supplies the skills needed to become politically engaged and

understand the voting system (Hillygus, 2006). Next is the social network hypothesis that

explains education determines a person‟s social network position (Hillygus, 2005). The final
 Laura Blevins 43

hypothesis is the political meritocracy hypothesis that states it is not the education level but the

intelligence level of an individual that promotes political participation (Hillygus, 2005).

These three hypotheses all give an explanation for why education has such a strong affect

on political participation. Through Hillygus‟ research he found that the civic education

hypothesis offered the greatest amount of support for the reason why education levels affect

political participation (2005). So, higher education levels within an individual increase their

political participation is due to the fact that they posses the skills and understandings of the

political system.

Age Survey Findings

Another demography that is examined through the survey is the idea of age playing a role

in the interest, participation, and the belief of one‟s vote making a difference. Many people

believe the older an individual the more mature and responsible that person acts. This could

affect the answer to the questions in relation to voting and the political spectrum.

The first question analyzed based on the individuals‟ age is whether or not the person is

interested in politics. The data gathered from the survey shows no significant findings relative to

age playing a role in the people‟s interest in politics (see Appendix F). The results are all over

the place and show no obvious correlation between age and interest in politics.

Age could also be a factor in whether people between the ages of 18 and 29 plan to

participate in the 2008 presidential election. There are no obvious trends to this question through

the survey based on age. One should note though, the only ages that answered “No” at a rate of

50 percent or more are 18, 20, 21, 24, and 27-year-olds (see Appendix G).

Another question that age could affect the outcome is whether individuals believe their

vote counts on Election Day. Fifty percent or more of every age surveyed believes that their vote
 Laura Blevins 44

counts (see Appendix H). One finding is that 100 percent of 19, 23, 25, and 29-year-olds believe

that their vote counts (see Appendix H). This evidence shows that young voters believe that their

vote does count, but it does not directly correspond with the age of the individuals.

Upon analysis of the age demographic in relation to interest, participation, and the belief

of one‟s vote making a difference within young voters it is evident that age is not a direct factor.

Age has no affect on young people and their participation within the political arena; therefore,

there must be another variable that affects their turnout rates and interest in politics.

Gender Survey Findings

The final demographic analyzed in this research that could affect young people is gender.

Politics, until recently, primarily had been a male-dominated field. This could play a role in the

participation and interest of female voters. Recently, there has been an overwhelming burst of

females onto the scene of politics with Hillary Clinton running in the presidential primaries,

Nancy Pelosi becoming the Speaker of the House, and numerous female governors and mayors.

Examining of the data allowed for the finding that males between the ages of 18- and 29-

years-old are more interested in politics than their female counterparts (see Appendix I). When

analyzing males and female‟s interest in politics relative to their age there is no obvious trends to

be found. On the other hand, when observing the data gathered from the survey for females

based on their education levels there does seem to be a trend. The interest in politics for females

tends to increase as their level of education increases (see Appendix J). The interest in politics

among males hovers around 50 percent no matter what the level of education acquired except for

those with a bachelors degree (see Appendix K). Seventy percent of the individuals who

obtained a bachelors degree are interested in politics (see Appendix K).

 Laura Blevins 45

When asked the question of whether participants felt as if their vote counted, based on

gender, males and females gave an overwhelming response of yes (see Appendix L).

Breaking down the responses of females and males based on age, there is no obvious trend

relative to their age and whether they feel as if their vote counts within the findings. Although,

six of the females age groups responded 100 percent that they believe their vote does count, sage

groups represents one-half of the age groups surveyed. Males have five age groups that

responded 100 percent that they believe their vote counts in elections.

When analyzing the data in regards to females based on their education level, there is a

pattern. The higher the education level of a female, the more she believes her vote counts (see

Appendix M). Females with a bachelors and masters degree polled 100 percent that their vote

does count (see Appendix M). Males‟ education levels do not show a significant affect on

whether they believe their vote counts.

The final question to be analyzed by the gender demographic is whether young voters

plan to vote during the 2008 presidential election. From the survey, young males plan to vote at a

higher rate than females (see Appendix N). The two genders are fairly close in their planned

turnout on Election Day, with a difference of approximately ten percent (see Appendix N).

When examining female responses based on ages there is not seem an observable trend

based on these responses. However, it is interesting that 100 percent of the females surveyed

ages 18, 19, 23 and 25 responded that they do plan to vote during the 2008 presidential election

(see Appendix O). One other interesting finding is all of the 29-year-old females do not plan to

vote this presidential election.

As with the responses of female participants, male participants‟ responses do not reflect a

trend relative to age. Just like the females, there is certain age groups that all answered that they
 Laura Blevins 46

are planning to vote in the 2008 presidential election while there is one age group that all

responded that they do plan to vote this presidential election (see Appendix P). The ages that are

all planning to vote are 19, 22, 23, 26, and 29 (see Appendix P). The age where everyone does

not plan to vote is the 27-year-olds (see Appendix P).

The education level of females started to show a trend of the higher the education the

more females plan to vote this presidential election (see Appendix Q). The females with masters

degrees throw off this trend because more of them do not plan to vote this during the 2008

election (see Appendix Q). Males, once again, are all over the chart when it comes to their

decision to vote based on their education levels.

Chapter Summary

Demographics tend to play a large role in the effect they can have on individuals and

their decisions and beliefs. The survey that was administered to 64 people all between the ages of

18- and 29-years-old shed light upon the amount of influence different demographics may have

on the research questions.

When analyzing the data gathered from the survey, it is apparent that education level

does influence a person‟s degree of interest in politics. However, education levels do not have an

affect on people between the ages of 18- and 29-years-old and their participation in the 2008

presidential election. Another finding is that the majority of young voters believe that their vote

does count.

Next, the data revealed that age does not seem to directly affect individuals between the

ages of 18- and 29-years-old when questioned about their interest in politics. There also were not

any obvious findings with respect to age playing a role in their participation in the 2008
 Laura Blevins 47

presidential election and if they believe that their vote counts. Age alone does not seem to be a

factor in this research.

The data point in the direction of males being more interested in politics than females. It

also reveals the fact that age among the two different genders does not affect their interests in

politics. A finding among education levels for females does show that the higher educated the

female, the more likely she will be interested in politics. Males on the other hand, tend to be

steadily interested in politics no matter what the education level.

When it comes to genders believing in their vote counting, both genders believe that their

vote counts. Age does not seem to have an effect on this belief either. Education levels only

show a trend among females. The higher level of education a female possesses, the stronger the

belief that her vote counts.

While analyzing the survey data there were many areas the demographics tended to play

a large role in the outcome. However, the one demographic that seemed to repeat itself no matter

what angle it was viewed under was age, because it did not show any signs of affecting young

voters ways of thinking or their participation levels.

 Laura Blevins 48

CHAPTER FIVE

Issues of Importance to Young Voters

When a candidate is running for most public offices he/she speaks on the issues at hand.

These issues are normally catered to the audience to whom they are speaking or trying to reach.

An issue is a topic that is currently affecting the voting population. Most issues tend to be some

type of crisis that is affecting the country and needs to be dealt with. Different people believe

different issues are important and want to hear about them and what the candidates‟ plan of

action is to deal with the issue if elected into office.

Many candidates tend to focus more on the older generations and issues that matter most

to them. This happens due to the turnout rates of the older voters. On the other side of the coin,

there are the young voters and what they believe are important issues that the candidate must

touch upon in order to win over their vote. What are the issues that are important to the voter‟s

age 18- to 29-years-old? In order to fully reach out to young voters, a political candidate must

know and understand these issues and why they are important to the young people.

Issue Survey Findings

According to the survey that was conducted during this study, there were seven issues

about which young voters wanted to hear. The seven topics included: economy, civil rights,

education, foreign affairs, taxes, environment, and health care (see Figure 18). From those topics

the top three (listed in order of importance):

1. Economy

2. Education

3. Foreign affairs
 Laura Blevins 49

The young voters of 2008 want to hear the most about these three topics and what the future

president plans to do about them.

Figure 2. Young Voters Issues of Importance

Foreign Affairs
18%
Taxes
Education
11%
22%
Environment
2%

Civil Rights Health Care

6% 4%

Economy
37%

Rock the Vote is an organization that polls voters, with a focus on 18- to 29-year-old

voters (2008). The organization published their Polling Young Voters, Volume VIII in February

2008, in which numerous questions were asked about the upcoming presidential election. One

question with multiple choice responses was “Which of these is the most important issue to

you?”(Rock the Vote, 2008). From the choices given the responses (see Figure 19) resembled the

survey completed for this study (see Figure 18). The responses from both the Young Voter

Participation Survey and the Rock the Vote Poll resulted in the same three topics identified as the

top three key issues for young voters.

 Laura Blevins 50

Figure 3. Top Issues for Young Voters

There are many other articles that justify these findings. Glazer agrees that the hot issue that is

currently facing the young voters is the War in Iraq (2007). Pinkus adds to the topic by

explaining how young voters today, want to hear about current topics such as war and education

(2006).

Economy

The economy plays a large role in everyone‟s life, whether they realize it or not. It does

not matter the age, education level, gender or race of a person - the economy affects their

everyday life. The economy can affect a person‟s wages and whether that person continues to

have a job. Prior to 2007, most young voters had not yet experienced an unstable economy

(Barone, 2007). They had not seen economic strife, depression, or had difficulty obtaining a job

that paid well and did not consist of manual labor (Barone, 2007). The young people today have

been living in an economy that has done well for the last 25 years (Barone, 2007). In an
 Laura Blevins 51

interview with Abigail Smith, a 22-year-old voter that is in her senior year at Neumann College,

she explained why the economy is an important issue to her. She stated,

The current economy has been on a downward spiral since 2007. The real estate
sector took the first blow. Houses that were once bought for hundreds of
thousands of dollars are struggling to be sold for a fraction of the price. Many
homes are being foreclosed on due to people not able to pay their mortgages,
because of the economic downfall. People have been laid off, companies have
been forced to close doors on their businesses, gas and utility prices have sky-
rocketed and the list goes on. It is so hard to make it today. (A. Smith, personal
communication, August 10, 2008).

This year, President Bush delivered a stimulus package to the United States citizens who

had filed a tax return, have low-income, and/or the elderly (MSNBC, 2008). The stimulus

package was an effort to stimulate the currently sluggish economy experienced in the United

States (MSNBC, 2008). President Bush and economic analysts were very optimistic about the

effect the stimulus package will have on the economy (MSNBC, 2008). Congress says that if this

package does not deter a crisis within the economy as anticipated, they will be ready to spend

more money to assist the economy (MSNBC, 2008).

In a poll from the Associated Press, the findings were not very promising for the citizens

to spend the stimulus packages (MSNBC, 2008). Only 19 percent responded that they plan to

spend the stimulus check that they will receive from the government (MSNBC, 2008). On the

other hand, 45 percent said they are going to pay bills with it and 32 percent plans to save the

money (MSNBC, 2008). When the president and the government step in and try to boost the

economy it is evident that the economy is not doing well.

In another interview with a young voter named Sam Black, who is a 19-year-old high

school graduate, spoke about the failing economy:

I really don‟t understand the whole thing about the economy. I just know that my job
depends on how the economy is doing. I work for an aggregate mining company, who
supplies materials to create concrete, athletic fields and golf courses. Our hours have
 Laura Blevins 52

been cut back due to the lack of demand for the material, because companies are not
spending money like they were in the past years. There has been talk about layoffs in the
near future within the company (S. Black, personal communication, August 14, 2008).

Brett Goddard also expressed the same concern about the unstable economy in the United

States. Goddard is a 25-year-old, high school graduate that is a private trucking contractor.

I haul steel from companies to different customers. I drive an 18 wheeler, and I like what
I do. Times are getting hard though. Many of the industries are feeling the effect from the
economy. Not many companies are building and using steel like they once did. As a
result many of the steel producing companies have lain off their employees. Now I am
having a hard time finding work for myself (B. Goddard, personal communication,
August 14, 2008).

Education

Education embodies public schools grade K through 12 as well as higher educational

institutions. Years ago, people went to colleges and universities to further their education, but it

was not something that was necessary to obtain a good job. Today, in order to get a job that does

not involve manual labor, one must have some form of higher education. Hence, the reason that

higher educational institutions are a part of the education issue that young people feel is

important to the future of the United States.

An interview was conducted with Karry Short and one of her top concerns was education.

Karry is a 28-year-old high school graduate and a mother of two children. She currently is a stay-

at-home mother whom cares for her three and four-year-old. In the interview, Karry informed me

that her four-year-old daughter is starting preschool this year. When I asked her if she had any

concerns about the current education system she provided a thorough response.

I pay my taxes in hopes that the money is going where it is supposed to, the public
education system. I am apprehensive about my daughter starting school, as any
mother is. I have confidence in the public school system, but I know the system
could be better. As far as politics goes in the education system, candidates must
keep in mind that the future of the United States rest in the hands of the children
today as well as the young voters. If the country neglects to properly educate the
children of today, there may not be a bright tomorrow for the United States.
 Laura Blevins 53

Education is the key to success! (K. Short, personal communication, August 1,

2008).

In the interviews conducted, many of the young voter‟s ages 18- to 29-year-olds are more

worried about the aspect of higher education, because they are currently attending a college or

university and they know the cost of tuition. In addition to the tuition, many students live on

campus so they must pay not only for room and board, but also for books and other class-related

expenses. All of these expenses are normally financed through student loans, but the students

must start paying on them six months after they graduate if they choose to defer their payments.

These college graduates are not obtaining jobs within the economy where they are able to live on

their own and pay for their student loans.

Since I am still in college, the cost of tuition has not yet hit me. Books on the
other hand have hit my wallet and they are not cheap. I cannot live on campus
because of the cost, so I went to a college that was near my parents‟ home (A.
Smith, personal interview, August 10, 2008).

Nina Guess is an alumnus from Widener University. She is 25-years-old and currently has a job

with a company in Philadelphia, PA as a human resource coordinator.

I have been out of college long enough that I have started to pay on my student
loans. I cannot afford to live on my own and pay my student loans so I live at
home still. I have a good salary and I still cannot afford to live and pay my loans.
I am very fortunate that I have parents that are in a position to help me (N. Guess,
personal communication, August 8, 2008).

Young people are feeling the pain of college costs shortly after they graduate. Some

young people choose not to go to college. Sam Black explained: “I did not go to college because

I did now want to place the financial burden upon my parents. I know that I couldn‟t afford it so

I didn‟t go” (S. Black, personal communication, August 14, 2008).

Another person that was interviewed is Tracy Baccle, who is a 26-year-old who currently

attends Harford Community College. Tracy voiced her concern about the education system and
 Laura Blevins 54

particularly the No Child Left Behind Act (Bush, 2008). She believes that this Act, put into place

by the current president, is not benefiting the school children. She stated that public school

classes “…as a whole, they (school classrooms) are only as smart as the dumbest member and as

fast as the slowest” (T. Baccle, personal communication, August 15, 2008). She believes that the

government needs to back out of the schools and “go back to putting some responsibility back on

the parents” (T. Baccle, personal communication, August 15, 2008). Baccle went onto explain

how high school diplomas have “lost (their) value”.

No one cares that you graduated. They want you to have a bachelors or masters,
now. There used to be a time where if you went to college you were almost
guaranteed a nice job. Now, you can spend 150k on an education and still be
working at Wal-mart (T. Baccle, personal communication, August 15, 2008).

Lastly, Glen Hong, who attends the College of Alameda in California wrote an essay

entitled “The Value of Education” that is about her struggle through grade school (Robbins &

Grabow, 2004). Hong explains how she was ready to drop out of school until she gave it a

chance (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). After that, she realized how important the experience was

and how much she enjoyed learning (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). In the following excerpt she is

explaining the educational experience and how it affects people:

The experiences of others, confidence, motivation and opportunity are three

essentials that are without a doubt obtainable if the educational system is
considered. Those three were reason enough for me to have continued my
education up to this day. The educational system has turned me from the child I
once was into the strong person that I am now (Robbins & Grabow, 2004).

The education system is a vital piece of the puzzle for our present and our future. “We must

ensure that the public education system is kept on top of the list of priorities for the government

officials. Without it there is no future for the country” (T. Baccle, personal communication,

August 15, 2008).

 Laura Blevins 55

Foreign Affairs

Foreign affair is a term that encompasses any happenings that do not take place in the

United States or on domestic soil. For example, events in the Middle East, the war in Iraq,

nuclear issues with North Korea and any other topic that is taking place on foreign territory

would be examples of foreign affairs. These issues may happen in other countries, but whether it

is direct or indirect, it affects the United States and every citizen that lives within its borders.

Barone (2007) explains in the U.S. News & World Report that young people have not

lived through a rough time that angers them. This generation has not had to fight for anything as

far as rights, civil liberties, or being forced to fight in a war through a government enforced draft

(Barone, 2007). This was all done by their ancestors to ensure them a better life in the future

(Barone, 2007). There is an issue that is starting to make the young voters more passionate about

political elections: The war in Iraq (Barone, 2007).

A student at Millikin University, Eric Kohn, wrote an essay about all of the current

catastrophes that have occurred all over the world starting with the United States on September

11, 2001 (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). He then goes on to list the Madrid bombings, acts of terror

in Russia, car bombs, and innocent people dying (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). Eric refers all of

the terrorist acts to the Nazi Germany and Hitler, because these people are using force and

expending people because they are not like them (Robbins & Grabow, 2004). He explains how

the countries must rise together sooner than later to fight these terrorists (Robbins & Grabow,

2004). “The rest of the world cannot afford to wait any longer. It‟s time to wake up to the lessons

of history…We are fighting World War III. And losing is not an option” (Robbins & Grabow,

2004).
 Laura Blevins 56

While conducting interviews in this study, it became obvious that the war in Iraq was the

main foreign issue about which young voters wanted to hear. Brett Goddard explained how he

believes that “we are fighting the war for a reason, and the troops need all of the support we can

give them” (personal communication, August 14, 2008). Karry Short also believes that “we may

not fully understand why we are in Iraq, but we do not receive all of the information that the

president does” (personal communication, August 1, 2008). Short also made it clear that if both

the president and Congress felt it was necessary to go to war, then there had to be a good reason

(personal communication, August 1, 2008). Other interviewees stated that they did not fully

understand the reason the United States is fighting a war in Iraq. Many of the responses included

bringing the troops home as soon as possible. Abigail Smith expressed this belief by saying “we

need to bring our troops home safe and sound, very soon” (personal communication, August 10,

2008). This belief was repeated by another interviewee (N. Guess, personal communication,

August 8, 2008).

Tracy Baccle posed the question during her interview, “When did it become our (the

Untied States) job to police the world?” (personal communication, August 15, 2008). She feels

that

we have so much man power and resources over seas we cant even control our own
nation. We have veterans of war living in the streets and God knows how many illegal
immigrants…We (the United States) needs to fix our internal problems and let the rest of
the world do it alone for a while (T. Baccle, personal communication, August 15, 2008).

She continues to explain the problem with the war in Iraq:

after years of being there (Iraq) now, the young voters are getting bored with it,
and come home already. There was enough time to do what we needed to and be
done… We gave them the tools to start their own government over there, now
let‟s leave. If they can‟t handle it, it‟s their problem. If they attack us again
though, we‟ll bomb (them) again. We need to leave other nations alone. Maybe if
we kept to ourselves there wouldn‟t be any reason to (make) anyone (mad
 Laura Blevins 57

enough) to have them attack us in the first place (T. Baccle, personal
communication, August 15, 2008).

Foreign affairs, within the realm of the young voters, seem to focus on the war in Iraq. It

does not appear that this group of individuals is aware of anything else that is happening in other

countries. The group is divided on whether they believe the United States should be fighting the

war and if they want the war to end. No matter what, the voters between the ages of 18 and 29

have a view on foreign affairs and believe that it is an important issue.

There are other „hot button‟ issues that were not brought up in this study but are reflected

in an article from the National Journal. Some of these topics include: abortion, health care, global

warming, and handgun control (Glazer, 2007). Glazer explained how both the older and younger

generation of voters seemed to agree on where to stand in respect to these „hot button‟ issues

(2007). Maybe that is the consensus in regards to the issues uncovered in this study as well.

Chapter Summary

Young voters have voiced their concerns and identified the economy, education, and

foreign affairs as the three most important issues. These issues were also the top three identified

by respondents in the Rock the Vote Poll, Volume VIII.

The economy is at the top of the list according to the surveys referenced. In the

interviews conducted, many people were worried about their jobs, wages, and the housing

market. President Bush provided a stimulus package that was delivered to the citizens. The effect

from the package has not yet been assessed (MSNBC, 2008). According to Congress, if it does

not have the anticipated effect, it will be ready to give more money in an attempt to deter the

economy from going into a crisis (MSNBC, 2008).

Education is another pressing issue for young voters. These voters are not only worried

about the public education system, but also the costs of institutions of higher education and
 Laura Blevins 58

related expenditures. The age group 18- to 29-year-olds are a group of young people that are all

in various life stages. Some are going to college. Others are working, and some of the young

voters have children who are starting school. This diverse group of people conveyed their

concerns through the interviews about both public grade school and higher educational institutes.

The final issue that made the top three of importance is foreign affairs. Foreign affairs are

everything that is not happening on United States soil, but directly or indirectly affects the

country. Many young people are concerned with war that currently going on in Iraq. The key

points are the same, but the views may differ. There are many other foreign issues that are

currently taking place, but the war tends to be the one that it is on the young voters‟ minds

coming up on the 2008 presidential election.

These young voters have a right to be heard and have the attention of the candidates just

the same as the older voters. Their issues are just as important, because they are the future for the

United States.
 Laura Blevins 59

CHAPTER SIX

Positive Characteristics of a Politician

Characteristic is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as something “that serves to

indicate the essential quality or nature of persons or things; displaying character; distinctive”

(2008). When one is running for a public office, it is imperative that one be distinctive and

display character.

Survey Findings for Presidential Qualities

A question asked in the survey used in this study was, “What qualities do you look for in

a future president?” From the question nine different responses were obtained from the number

of completed surveys. The eight identified characteristics were: honesty, refraining from

mudslinging, caring, integrity, morals, experience, desire for change, and faith. (see Figure 20).

The top three qualities listed in order of importance are:

1. Honesty

2. Individual is calling for a change

3. Morals

Young voters are seeking out a presidential candidate in the 2008 election who possesses the

eight qualities but most of all these three qualities in order to win their vote.
 Laura Blevins 60

Figure 4. Important Qualities of a President

honesty
29%
unsure
1%
no mudslinging
faith
9%
9%
caring
3%
want change integrity
18% 10%

experience morals
8% 13%

Honesty

In order to discuss honesty one must have a clear definition of what the word means.

Honesty is a word

That deals fairly and uprightly in speech and act; sincere, truthful, candid; that will not
lie, cheat, or steal. (The prevailing modern sense, the „honest man‟ being the „good
citizen‟, the law-abiding man, as opposed to the rogue, thief, or enemy of society.) (OED,
2008).

Honesty is a characteristic that everyone should posses because it is a positive characteristic and

considered by society to be a personal asset. Young voters do not want to be spoon fed what the

politicians “think” they want to hear, instead they want to hear the truth (“A Guide,” n.d.).

When interviewed, Abigail Smith explained how honesty is an important characteristic

within a person.

Honesty is a characteristic that I look for within everybody that I am associated with. I
would only hope that our future president is a person that is honest, because if a countries
citizens do not trust their leader, then why should any other country leader (A. Smith,
personal communication, August 10, 2008).
 Laura Blevins 61

Karry Short also expressed her concern about the future president possessing the honesty

characteristic.

I do not want to worry about the leader of my country lying to me. He is the highest
person within the United States government and he should be a role model for the
citizens of the country. If he is lying, cheating, and/or stealing what kind of example does
that set? (K. Short, personal communication, August 1, 2008).

Sam Black and Brett Goddard both felt that honesty is nice to have within a president, or

any public official, but they do not believe that politicians are honest. Black said, “It is the nature

of the position. These people cannot be completely honest even if they want to” (personal

communication, August 14, 2008). Goddard gave the example of President Clinton, “He was

lying about his personal life and what was happening with Monica Lewinsky. Just imagine the

other things that he was lying to the American public about” (personal communication, August

14, 2008).

Young voters would like to have a future president that they can trust and believe. Some

are very skeptical about this though, due to the nature of the position and what happens within

the government. Voters between the ages of 18- and 29-years-old do not have a high respect for

the government and its officials.

Individual that is Calling for a Change

Eighteen percent of the young voters that responded to the Young Voter Participation

Survey (2008) responded that they wanted a president who is calling for a change (see Figure

20). From the amount of responses, it appears that the young voters are not happy with the

current administration. Nina Guess responded, “there has been so much deceit within the current

administration that it makes it hard to even listen to President Bush speak anymore…They have

let us down in so many ways” (personal communication, August 8, 2008). She went on to

explain the reasons why she felt let down by the government:
 Laura Blevins 62

their lack of response to Katrina, the reasons for going into Iraq, they keep changing first
it was because they were building weapons of mass destruction and when they found no
signs of them it was alleged that Saddam Hussein was funding the terrorists (N. Guess,
personal communication, August 8, 2008).

It is obvious that the young voters doubt the United States government, but the idea of

change is not so easy to implement within the government. Sam Black expressed his concern

with the current idea of change that is being tossed around by current democratic presidential

nominee Barack Obama.

Obama keeps saying „it‟s time for a change‟. I agree, but I do not think he can bring the
change that the United States needs right now. We have to remember that it has taken the
government years to get to the point where it is today and just because we elect a new
president from a different political party does not ensure that change will occur. There are
many people that run the government, not just the president, so if those people do not
believe it is time for a change what does it matter that the president believes it? (S. Black,
personal communication, August 14, 2008).

Young voters believed that change should happen within the United States government,

but how should the government achieve this change? This question is where the young voters

were unsure and had varied opinions. In the end though, it is important to know the discontent

from young voters with the current administration.

Morals

The characteristic morals, tends to have a very subjective meaning. The meaning of

„morals‟ varies depending upon with whom one is speaking. The definition of moral, as provided

by the Oxford English Dictionary is as follows:

Of or relating to human character or behaviour considered as good or bad; of or relating

to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions,
desires, or character of responsible human beings; ethical (OED, 2008).

This definition explains that moral is the “distinction between right and wrong” (OED, 2008).

What is right and wrong to one person may not be the same to another. Some people believe that

it is okay to take from the rich and give to the poor. Other people believe that it is completely
 Laura Blevins 63

wrong to take from anybody and that everyone must work for what they have. To clarify the

meaning of morals among young voters it is best to hear it from the young voters themselves.

In an interview with Brett Goddard, he stated, “morals kind of goes back to the

characteristic of honesty. Hopefully, if somebody is honest they have morals as well” (personal

communication, August 14, 2008). Goddard explained what morals means to him,

they (morals) are how you are raised by your parents. Your parents are supposed to raise
you with good morals and they include things such as, you shouldn‟t steal, respect others,
you shouldn‟t kill people…Now once a person is an adult it is there choice if they want to
practice these morals or not (personal communication, August 14, 2008).

Everybody that was interviewed for this study all expressed the same beliefs as Brett

Goddard did in his interview. Young voters believe that having morals is very important when

serving as a president or public official for the United States.

When interviewed, Tracy Baccle explained how “in the voting world the illusion of these

qualities are important. We want to think we are voting for a better person” (personal

communication, August 15, 2008). Baccle agrees that the qualities are good for a president to

possess. She questions if these qualities should not be held throughout the White House and

everyone within its walls, not solely by the president.

I think honesty, morals and change are important I just don‟t think they are realistic to the
job. The president is an elected civilian. How many advisor positions are for life? How
many life long military careers are had in the white house? There are so many people that
work there that out last two terms with one president. To truly make change, those people
need to change, not the president; he changes every four years, sometimes eight. How
good is a president when his advisors lie, cheat, steal? (T. Baccle, personal
communication, August 15, 2008).

Chapter Summary

All of the aforementioned qualities are great for an individual to posses. Many people

may posses these qualities, but they do not make sure that they use these qualities when running
 Laura Blevins 64

for an office or while working as a political official. Young voters are in tune and aware of what

qualities they are looking for within a future president.

Many have expressed their discontent with the current administration and want to elect

someone into office that wants to bring about positive change. This change will not happen

overnight. It is a long and hard course that must be traveled in order to achieve the change that

the young people are calling for within the United States government.

Honesty and morals seem to go hand in hand with the young voters. They all believe that

these two qualities are essential for a future president. These qualities are important during the

campaigning as well as once the individual is elected into office. If the qualities are not genuine

and practiced while in office, then it does not change anything. There has to be consistency and

that falls along the lines of honesty.

 Laura Blevins 65

CHAPTER SEVEN

Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Introduction

The purpose of the research is to analyze the voter turnout of voters between the ages of

18- and 29-years-old and the factors that influence young voter turnout. Hence, the primary

research question: How are young voter turnout at presidential elections is affected by the

relationship between demographics, current issues, and candidate characteristics? This study set

out to answer the question by reporting the findings and analysis of the following research

questions:

1. What was the presidential election turnout of 18- to 29-year-olds between 1972 and

2004?

2. What demographic factors affect the participation of young voters in the voting process?

3. What issues are important to young voters?

4. What are positive characteristics within a political candidate that are important to young

voters?

This study attempted to clarify the relationship among these different variables that may

affect young voter turnout. Different demographics that could play a role in young voter turnout

include: age, gender and education level of young individuals. Young voter turnout may also be

affected by perceived candidate characteristics and campaigns. Examples would be that the

candidate may not possess characteristics young voters prefer the next leader of the United States

to possess, and the candidate may not be talking about issues young voters deems as important.

A summary of the findings from the study conducted follow.

 Laura Blevins 66

Summary

Research question one asked what are the turnout rates of voters between the ages of 18-

and 29-years-old? The findings showed young voters do turnout at the polls, just not at the same

rate as voters age 30 and older. Young voters tend to fall behind in the turnout rates 10 to 30

percent compared to the older generation of voters. The highest participation from young voters

occurred in 1972, with a turnout of approximately 55% (see Figure 1). Participation data from

the last presidential election in 2004 reflect that young voter turnout has increased when

compared to the 2000 election turnout rates of young voters (see Figure 1).

In the Young Voter Participation Survey (Blevins, 2008) administered in this study,

young voters were asked if they planned to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Responses

indicate that study participants do plan to vote in the upcoming election. Many stated that it will

be their first time voting and is an important way in which to have their voices heard. From the

people who expressed their intent not to vote this election, there was a majority of 55 percent,

with the explanation that they do not have the time. Another question that was presented in the

Young Voter Participation Survey was to determine whether young voters were interested in

politics (Blevins, 2008). The responses to this question were evenly divided.

This part of the study showed findings that are crucial in understanding the young voters

that do not participate in the voting process. The more information that is gathered about these

young people - the more candidates can reach out and lead them to the voting polls. The Center

for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) has collected and

analyzed data in regards to the young voter turnout rates and the older voter turnout rates. The

findings from their analysis of the data is young voters do vote, just at a lower turnout rate than

the voters that are 30 and older. However, the literature reviewed for this study did not reveal
 Laura Blevins 67

any studies on why these turnout rates are lacking in the young voters. The two questions about

young voters interest and if they plan to vote and why have not been asked in the literature.

The second research question was developed to determine whether certain young voter

demographics (i.e., age, gender, and education level) affected turnout rates. There were six

questions within the survey that pertains to the analysis of the data.

1. Age

2. Gender

3. Highest level of education completed

4. Do politics interest you?

5. Do you plan to vote this presidential election?

6. Do you feel as if your vote counts?

Upon analysis of responses to these six questions, it was found that education levels affected the

young voters‟ degree of interest in politics. Interest in politics is affected by educational level.

However, education level did not have an effect on young voters‟ intent to vote in the upcoming

presidential election. No matter the education level the majority of young voters believed their

vote counts. When data relative to age was analyzed, it was found that age does not have any

effect on the impact of young voters‟ participation and views on politics.

Gender does play a role in voting participation and the interest of politics. Males are more

interested in politics than females and education levels do not affect the interest levels of males.

Females showed a direct connection between interest in politics and education levels. The higher

the level of education the more interested females were in politics.

The literature that was reviewed did not show any studies that have been completed

analyzing these demographics along with the questions that were asked. Studies have been done
 Laura Blevins 68

on young voters, but they focus on different demographics such as race and the parents voting

participation. Hence, the reason data related to age, gender and education levels were collected

and analyzed

The third research question was intended to identify issues of importance to young voters.

Responses to the survey resulted in three major issues being identified: the economy, education

and foreign affairs. Other issues were raised, but these were the top three responses. To obtain

additional information on these issues to identify why they were important to young voters,

interviews were conducted. With regard to the economy, many people were worried about their

jobs, wages, and the housing market. Many of the young voters expressed their deep concern for

their current jobs and if they will still have them in the near future.

Another issue of concern that was raised in the interviews, was their concern with the

education system. Not only are these voters concerned about the public education system, which

includes grades Kindergarten through 12, but they are concerned with the price of higher

education as well. One of the interviewees went as far to explain that she had recently graduated

from an established university, obtained a good job, and still could not afford to live out on her

own and pay her student loans.

The war in Iraq was the main topic of conversation during the interviews about foreign

affairs. Young voters are on both sides with the war in Iraq. Some believed that there is reason

the United States is in Iraq and feel that the citizens need to support the troops. Others would like

for the United States government to bring the troops home safe and sound as soon as possible.

Some believe that it is none of the United States business as to what is going on in Iraq. These

young voters believe that the United States needs to focus on what is happening within its own

borders and with their citizens.

 Laura Blevins 69

Current literature (e.g., Rock the Vote Poll, Volume VIII ) also identifies these issues as

the top three. The government, itself, has also echoed the issue with the economy, because they

issued a stimulus package to curb the economy from going into crisis mode. The stimulus

package data has not yet been collected, so the effectiveness of the package cannot be assessed at

this time. The book “What We Think Young Voters Speak Out” was a resource to facilitate the

explanation to the findings from research question three. The book is compiled of different

writings from young voters and their view on different topics and issues.

From the fourth research question, the study was seeking to find the positive

characteristics that young voters look for when selecting the next President of the United States.

Survey data collected showed eight different characteristics that young people look for, but the

top three were honesty, wanting a change, and morals. Many have expressed their discontent

with the current administration and want to elect someone into office that wants to bring about

positive change. This change will not happen overnight. It is a long and hard course that must be

traveled in order to achieve the change that the young people are calling for within the United

States government.

Honesty and morals seem to go hand in hand with the young voters. They all believe that

these two qualities are essential for a future president. These qualities are important during the

campaigning as well as once the individual is elected into office. There has to be consistency and

that falls along the lines of honesty.

Each research question is a vital piece of the puzzle when seeking to identify how young

voters are affected by the relationship between demographics, current issues, and candidate

qualities in respect to actual young voter turnout. All of these pieces, directly or indirectly, play a

role in the young voter turnout and participation in presidential elections.

 Laura Blevins 70

Conclusion

To conclude, the focus of this study was on what affects young voter turnout and what

are young voters looking for within a political candidate. This study searched to find the issues

that are important to young voters as well. This study expected to find a relationship between

young voters‟ demographics (age, gender, education level) and young voter turnout rates. The

only finding that was absolute was the fact that age does not affect the voting turnout from young

voters.

The study contends young voters do vote, however, they do not have the same turnout

rates of the older generation of voters. The young voters tend to fall behind by 10 to 30 percent

compared to the voters ages 30 and older. From this information, it gives candidates and their

campaigns an idea of where they need to start in order to appeal to the young voters.

Through the literature that was reviewed within this study it was evident that campaigns

need to bring their campaign tactics into the new generation of information. Young voters do not

obtain their information through newspapers and television like the voters that are 30 and older.

The young voters seek out most of their information through the Internet and their cell phones.

Young voters are a generation that is used to having the information at their fingertips at all

times and as fast as possible.

The research uncovered great correlations between demographics and voter participation

and gave light to the young voters and where they stand on different topics. Young voters want

to be heard, they are just waiting for the right person to come along and amplify their voices.

This research is one of the amplifiers the young voters have been waiting for.
 Laura Blevins 71

Recommendations

In order to discuss recommendations for future research the limitations must once again

be revisited. The limitations within the study resided in the amount of responses received from

the Young Voter Participation Survey and within the interviews that were conducted to aid this

study. It was hard to obtain a truly diverse group of participants without having an outlet that

would allow for a more broad range of people to respond to the survey. Through these

limitations some trends and areas of unanswered questions arose that may need to be looked into

more detail by another researcher.

Future researchers should look into a few issues that arose during this study. When

analyzing the different demographics there were different age group findings that need more

research to decide whether these findings are significant. One of the findings through this

research was the fact that the ages 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 29 year olds all responded yes by a

rate higher than 50 percent on their intent to vote this presidential election. Another finding is

that 100 percent of 19, 23, 25, and 29-year-olds believe that their vote counts. There were also

different age groups, once the data was broken down by gender that responded 100 percent no to

questions and 100 percent yes. The future researchers should study why these age groups kept

coming through at such high intensity levels in their responses.

Another finding in this study that future researchers may want to contemplate is the

mimicking of trend lines for voter turnout between the young voters and the 30 and older voters.

The two voter turnout trend lines increase and decrease simultaneously with the exception of the

1980 presidential election.

In future research one may want to consider the possibility that young voters may not

think so differently than the voters aged 30 and up. In one of the pieces of literature that idea was
 Laura Blevins 72

brought to light and should be further researched in the future. The issues and characteristics that

young people are looking for within a future president may not be so different than their older

counterparts.

Future researchers may also want to dive into the other reasons that were listed for the

young voters that did not plan to vote this presidential election. These reasons included the fact

that the individual was not registered, did not like the candidates, and were not educated about

the candidates. Why are these young voters not registered yet, do they not know how to register

to vote? Why do the young voters not like the candidates for the 2008 presidential election? Are

the young voters having a hard time finding information about the candidates and their issues?

All of these recommendations are findings from this study that need more research conducted to

draw conclusions from.

 Laura Blevins 73

REFERENCES

Barone, M. (2007, May 21). The contented young. U.S. News & World Report, 142, 38.

Blevins, L. L. (2008). Young voter participation survey.

Capini, M. X. & Frishberg, I. (2005, December 2). Colleges should foster growth in young-voter

turnout. Chronicle of Higher Education, 52, B20.

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. A Voter Turnout

Time Series for 1972-2004. Retrieved June 14, 2008A, from

http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/04_voting.xls

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. CIRCLE‟s Mission.

Retrieved June 14, 2008B, from http://www.civicyouth.org/?page_id=132

Emerling, G. & Bellantoni, C. (2008, February 12). Youth enthusiastic for voice in primary. The

Washington Times, A01.

Epstein, L. & Walker, T. G. (2000). Constitutional law for a changing America (2nd ed.).

Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Glazer, G. (2007, December 8). The electorate: Young Americans. National Journal, 39, 82.

A guide to reaching young voters: Are you talking to me? (n.d.). Cambridge, MA: Institute of

Politics, Harvard University. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from

http://www.iop.harvard.edu/var/ezp_site/storage/fckeditor/file/pdfs/Research-Pu

blications/IOP_Voters_Guide.pdf
 Laura Blevins 74

Hillygus, D. S. "The missing link: Exploring the relationship between higher education and

political engagement." Political Behavior. 27. (March 2005). Retrieved August 29, 2008,

from

<http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=3&sid=ff805886-639b-4a5a-a

2ec-5884183030e7%40sessionmgr9>.

MSNBC. Bush signs stimulus package into law. Business. Retrieved July 10, 2008, from

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23143814/

Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008, from

http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50134150?single=1&query_type=word&que

ryword=literature&first=1&max_to_show=10

Pinkus, A. (2006, April 12). Young voters beat a path toward a politics of morals. Christian

Science Monitor, 98, 1-3.

Robbins, D. & Grabow, R. (Eds.). (2004). What we think young voters speak out. Book

Publishers Network.

Rock the Vote. Polling young voters, Volume VIII. February 2008. 5 p. Retrieved April 12,

2008, from

http://www.rockthevote.com/assets/publications/research/polling-young-voters

-volume-viii.pdf

Smith, H. (2007, December). Rock the Vote 2.0. Esquire, 148, 208-235.

US Census Bureau. History. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2008, from

http://www.census.gov/history/www/2000/011794.html

Von Drehle, D., Tumulty, K., Bowers, P., Healy, R., Kloberdanz, K. & Horwath, J. (2008,

February 11). It's their turn now. Time South Pacific, (5), 20-26.
 Laura Blevins 75

Young voters speak, but who listens? (2006, November 7). USA Today.

Young voter mobilization tactics 2. (n.d.) Washington, D.C.: Graduate School of Political

Management, George Washington University. Retrieved June 13, 2008, from

http://www.rockthevote.com/assets/publications/research/rtv_young_voter_mo

bilization_tactics_ii-2007.pdf
 Laura Blevins 76

APPENDIX

APPENDIX A: Young Voter Participation Survey

Hello, my name is Laura Blevins and I am currently pursuing my masters degree through Strayer
University. The final obstacle before obtaining my masters is a thesis. I am conducting some
research for my thesis and I would greatly appreciate all of the input I could get. Here is a survey
for you to fill out and send back to me: lauralb13@yahoo.com

I only need people between the ages of 18 and 29 to fill this out, because those are the only
people that are relevant for my research. Please forward this to anyone you know between these
ages. I need it returned to me no later than April 13, 2008.

Thank you for all of your help!!!

1. Age:

2. Sex:

3. Last completed level of education:

4. Do politics interest you? Why or why not?

5. What issues interest you when it comes to politics (ex: education, economy etc.)?

6. Have you voted in past elections? Why or why not?

7. Do you plan to vote this presidential election? Why or why not?

8. Do you feel as if your vote counts?

9. What do you look for in a political candidate?

 Laura Blevins 77

APPENDIX B: Interest in Politics (table)

Yes No
Less than high
0 1
school
High School 5 15
Some College 14 12
Associates 1 1
Bachelors 10 2
Masters 2 1

APPENDIX C: Interest in Politics

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
College

Bachelors
School
Less than

Masters
Associates
Some
High
school
high

No
Yes
 Laura Blevins 78

Appendix D: Does Your Vote Count?

Yes No
Less than high
0 1
school
High School 11 9
Some College 19 7
Associates 1 1
Bachelors 11 1
Masters 3 0

APPENDIX E: Planning to Vote this Presidential Election

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
College

Bachelors
School
Less than

Masters
Associates
Some
High
school
high

No
Yes
 Laura Blevins 79

APPENDIX F: Interest in Politics Based on Age

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Age

APPENDIX G: Plans to Vote this Presidential Election Based on Age

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Age
 Laura Blevins 80

APPENDIX H: Does Your Vote Count? Based on Age

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Age

APPENDIX I: Interest in Politics Based on Gender

100%

80%

60% Yes

40% No

20%

0%
Female Male
 Laura Blevins 81

APPENDIX J: Females Interest in Politics Based on Education

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Less than High School Some College Associates Bachelors Masters
High School

APPENDIX K: Males Interest in Politics Based on Education

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Less than High School Some College Associates Bachelors Masters
High School
 Laura Blevins 82

APPENDIX L: Does Your Vote Count? Based on Gender

100%

80%

60% Yes

40% No

20%

0%
Female Male

APPENDIX M: Does Your Vote Count? Females Based on Education

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Less than High School Some College Associates Bachelors Masters
High School
 Laura Blevins 83

APPENDIX N: Do You Plan to Vote this Presidential Election? Based on Gender

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Female Male

APPENDIX O: Females Plans on Voting this Presidential Election Based on Age

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Age
 Laura Blevins 84

APPENDIX P: Males Plans on Voting this Presidential Election Based on Age

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Age

APPENDIX Q: Females Plans on Voting this Presidential Election Based on Education

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Yes
50%
No
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Less than High School Some College Associates Bachelors Masters
High School