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GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns. Lecture 10: Youth Engagement. Why Young People Do Not Vote. Life cycle Registration/absentee voting barriers No great generational event to spur long-term youth engagement Period effects No issues, “the cycle of mutual neglect”
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GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns Lecture 10: Youth Engagement
Why Young People Do Not Vote • Life cycle • Registration/absentee voting barriers • No great generational event to spur long-term youth engagement • Period effects • No issues, “the cycle of mutual neglect” • Want the immediate gratification of volunteering • Parents don’t vote
Did Rock the Vote Work? • Peripheral voters, such as young people, are more energized to vote in a high turnout election. • Was RTV effective in 1992 or did it catch a wave? • Is RTV cost efficient? • What is the most effective way to mobilize voters? What is the difference between RTV and PIRG? • How about young people not in college?
2004 PIRG Strategy • Select states (CO, IA, NV, NM, OR, and WI) based on criteria: • Density of youth population • Likely media attention • Voter registration rules • Voter lists • Organizational capacity • Build partnerships (including RTV) • Voter registration drives on campuses, but also movie theaters, bars, and where young people are • Build database of contacts • GOTV
Did PIRG’s Strategy Work? • Where they were active in Iowa, turnout increased between 2000 and 2004 among 18-24 year olds by 76.11% • According to the census, turnout increased between 2000 and 2004 among CVAP 18-24 year olds from 36.1% to 41.9%, or by 16.1%.
Future Reforms • Early voting polling places on campus • Polling places on campus • Voter registration drives for freshmen • Remove registration barriers • Educate people about their voting rights • Relax absentee voting laws