How Millennials voted this election - Brookings.edu
Excerpts:
On Thursday, November 17, Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) joined Brookings’ Governance Studies to discuss the millennial vote in the 2016 election. CIRCLE, a nonpartisan research center at Tufts’ Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, is a leading institution for understanding the young adult vote and informing policy and practice to ensure youth development and democratic health. The event began with a presentation from CIRCLE Director Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg and Director of Impact Abby Kiesa.
While many expected the low favorability ratings of the two candidates and the divisiveness of this election year to keep young voters home, 2016 saw similar rates of young adult turnout as 2012. On election day, Hillary Clinton won the youth vote (55 percent) while Donald Trump only garnered the support of 37 percent of the millennial electorate. Comparatively, in 2012, young adults voted for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 60 percent to 37 percent.
While a plurality of young voters preferred Clinton, throughout the election, young adults were divided on key issues.
Overall, Trump won one-third of young voters, a greater number than pre-election polls suggested he would. Notably, 32 percent of these young Trump supporters were excited by the prospect of a Trump presidency while only 18 percent of young Clinton supporters reported being excited about their candidate.
Coaston emphasized the importance of cultural organizing that makes all young people feel involved and represented. While she acknowledged the role celebrities played in this campaign season in appealing to young people, she argued that for many facing obstacles at work and at home, using celebrities as vehicles to engage voters may have been less effective. She said that in order for young people to be heard and wield influence, focusing on local political battles would prove crucial.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/11/21/how-millennials-voted/
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