WAPO: Great reason for optimism: The elusive youth vote is here, already

[lindysalsagal]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/youth-early-vote/2020/10/29/506db1b6-1889-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html

Gen Z, Millennial voters embrace activism and voting, as youth turnout surges ahead of Election Day

By Michelle Ye Hee Lee Oct. 29, 2020 at 11:10 a.m. EDT

Major social movements driven by young activists around climate change, gun safety and Black Lives Matter protests have led to an explosion of civic awareness among younger Americans, who are on track to turn out to vote in record numbers this election and could play a pivotal role in some key battleground states.

Data on early voters and recent polling suggest eligible voters under 30 could break their historic 2008 turnout, when it peaked at 48 percent when Barack Obama was elected as president. New data suggest they may be on track to sustain their dramatic turnout in the 2018 midterms, when they more than doubled their rate of voting compared to the prior midterm election.

The higher early turnout is somewhat expected, given the particularly low turnout by young voters in 2016 and the overall surge in interest in alternative voting options because of the novel coronavirus. But it underscores the many ways that this typically unreliable voting bloc has been galvanized into greater political and electoral engagement, and is especially noteworthy given the unique barriers to voting during a pandemic that has displaced many of them from their homes or college campuses, researchers say.

“Covid has made people more understanding of the importance of government in our lives,” said Amelia Marsh, 25, a leader with environmental groups Tucson Climate Jubilee in Arizona and the Sunrise Movement. “The inequity we’ve seen with covid and with racial justice, that’s very fresh in people’s minds. There were a lot of young people who were activated this summer around racial justice.”

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Very good news, indeed. As well they should be motivated.

And, if ACA is not on their minds, Roe v. Wade might be a wake-up call - for both genders - 18 and over.

2022, here we come! And there will be a new whole new generation of radicalized Democrats to put the stake in the Republican/Evangelical/NRA amalgam that will be destroyed in the next election cycle.

[Tom Rivers]

2. I sure hope so

I won't chalk it up as reality until I see it on Election night, but there's no reason for any progressive young voter to sit this one out. There is still time to undo Trump's damage and salvage women's rights, LGBT rights, and civil rights. If Trump wins this one, we're headed for a civil liberties dark ages that will take a generation to repair.

[Chuuurles]

3. small Anecdote

But my 22 yr old friends who live near Boston had Zero intention of voting in February, have now all voted Biden

[crickets]

4. Great! K&R

[central scrutinizer]

5. Climate change awareness, as well

Way past time to get serious and the Repugs are going the other way.

[Thekaspervote]

6. This poll is 5 days old, which is an eternity at this point but very telling

Link to tweet

?s=21

[GulfCoast66]

7. They voted in 18. There is even more reason to expect the same.

Or even higher turnout. They vote at 50% or higher it is a landslide. They are 3-1 Democratic.

[lindysalsagal]

8. Add to this all the new puerto ricans who moved to Florida after the hurricane.

They're PISSED.

[Statistical]

9. Prior to 2017 I have found it very hard to get Gen Z interested in anything about politics.

Not even talking about convincing them to vote blue just anything, learning about candidates, positions on issue, supreme court cases, proposed legislation, etc.

Now that isn't universal there are plenty of engaged Gen Zers but a lot just seemed to have a belief that politics didn't really affect their lives. It was something that old people got angry about every couple years. I think the last four years have shattered those illusions. Seeing where the country went when they "opted out" was surprising and heartbreaking for many. Gen Z tend to be rather progressive and if they are hanging around other Gen Z they are in an insulated like minded group. The idea that huge portions of the country oppose almost everything they favor has been on display for four years now.

Hopefully this is part of a long term trend of increased civic engagement.