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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication: February 2020
Online ISBN: 9781108770446
Overview of the Book
Overview of the Book
In 2016, 90% of young Americans reported an interest in politics. 80% intended to vote. Yet only 43% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 ended up actually casting a ballot. Making Young Voters investigates what lies at the core of this gap. The authors' in-depth, interdisciplinary approach reveals that political apathy is not the reason for low levels of youth turnout. Rather, young people too often fail to follow through on their political interests and intentions. Those with 'noncognitive' skills related to self-regulation are more likely to overcome internal and external barriers to participation. This book combines theory from psychology, economics, child development, and more to explore possible solutions rooted in civic education and electoral reform. This potentially paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature of American politics serves to influence not only our understanding of voter turnout, but also the fundamental connections between the education system, electoral institutions, and individual civic behavior in a democracy. How young people vote affects not only each individual future, but that of the United States, and of us all.
In 2016, 90% of young Americans reported an interest in politics. 80% intended to vote. Yet only 43% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 ended up actually casting a ballot. Making Young Voters investigates what lies at the core of this gap. The authors' in-depth, interdisciplinary approach reveals that political apathy is not the reason for low levels of youth turnout. Rather, young people too often fail to follow through on their political interests and intentions. Those with 'noncognitive' skills related to self-regulation are more likely to overcome internal and external barriers to participation. This book combines theory from psychology, economics, child development, and more to explore possible solutions rooted in civic education and electoral reform. This potentially paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature of American politics serves to influence not only our understanding of voter turnout, but also the fundamental connections between the education system, electoral institutions, and individual civic behavior in a democracy. How young people vote affects not only each individual future, but that of the United States, and of us all.
Book Resources
Book Resources
Book Endorsements
Book Endorsements
“Holbein and Hillygus have written a once-in-a-generation book. If you care about boosting youth voter turnout—and you should—then read Making Young Voters. It provides scholars with a compelling new way of thinking about the challenges of voting. It provides policymakers with specific ways to increase young people’s turnout. And it provides everyone with a vision for what a healthy democratic culture would look like. As Holbein and Hillygus convincingly show, we can start with an education system that teaches the skills young people need in order to overcome the obstacles to voting. But what we really need is an electoral system that removes those obstacles.”
“Holbein and Hillygus have written a once-in-a-generation book. If you care about boosting youth voter turnout—and you should—then read Making Young Voters. It provides scholars with a compelling new way of thinking about the challenges of voting. It provides policymakers with specific ways to increase young people’s turnout. And it provides everyone with a vision for what a healthy democratic culture would look like. As Holbein and Hillygus convincingly show, we can start with an education system that teaches the skills young people need in order to overcome the obstacles to voting. But what we really need is an electoral system that removes those obstacles.”
“Why do so few young Americans vote? The problem is not apathy, but rather that many of them lack the skills needed to follow through on their intentions. In Making Young Voters, John Holbein and Sunshine Hillygus make a persuasive case that equipping students with those skills is a missing piece of civic education programs—and, in doing so, provide a helpful playbook for educators seeking to turn their students into active citizens.”
“Why do so few young Americans vote? The problem is not apathy, but rather that many of them lack the skills needed to follow through on their intentions. In Making Young Voters, John Holbein and Sunshine Hillygus make a persuasive case that equipping students with those skills is a missing piece of civic education programs—and, in doing so, provide a helpful playbook for educators seeking to turn their students into active citizens.”
“In the United States, age is a source of deep political disadvantage. In this well-written book, Holbein and Hillygus call needed attention to the vast under-representation of young people in politics. This book shows that today’s youth are not disengaged and apathetic. Instead, they are heavily deterred by the obstacles of casting a vote. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the health of American electoral democracy.”
“In the United States, age is a source of deep political disadvantage. In this well-written book, Holbein and Hillygus call needed attention to the vast under-representation of young people in politics. This book shows that today’s youth are not disengaged and apathetic. Instead, they are heavily deterred by the obstacles of casting a vote. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the health of American electoral democracy.”
“An immensely important question - Why is youth turnout so low, and what should we do about it? – receives an original answer in this book. Holbein and Hillygus present rigorous evidence to support the argument that low youth vote turnout is not simply a matter of motivation, but very much dependent on the presence or absence of non-cognitive skills to follow up on said motivations. The authors also engage in clever discussion of the implications for civic education and electoral reform. A classic book, pleasant to read. You should follow up on your desire to read it.”
“An immensely important question - Why is youth turnout so low, and what should we do about it? – receives an original answer in this book. Holbein and Hillygus present rigorous evidence to support the argument that low youth vote turnout is not simply a matter of motivation, but very much dependent on the presence or absence of non-cognitive skills to follow up on said motivations. The authors also engage in clever discussion of the implications for civic education and electoral reform. A classic book, pleasant to read. You should follow up on your desire to read it.”
“This terrific book unpacks the alarmingly low voter turnout rates of young people, providing good news along the way. The generation gap in electoral participation is not inevitable. Cleverly drawing on multiple data sources, Holbein and Hillygus show that young people are less likely to follow through on their voting intentions due to factors such as inadequate civic education and legal barriers. The evidence in this book reveals what actually deters young people from becoming active voters, which, in turn, can assist reformers hoping to stimulate youth turnout.”
“This terrific book unpacks the alarmingly low voter turnout rates of young people, providing good news along the way. The generation gap in electoral participation is not inevitable. Cleverly drawing on multiple data sources, Holbein and Hillygus show that young people are less likely to follow through on their voting intentions due to factors such as inadequate civic education and legal barriers. The evidence in this book reveals what actually deters young people from becoming active voters, which, in turn, can assist reformers hoping to stimulate youth turnout.”
“In Making Young Voters, Holbein and Hillygus provide an authoritative account of why young people don’t vote and what we should do about it. The book rests upon an impressive array of evidence ranging from qualitative interviews with teachers and young people, to survey experiments and policy experiments, to sophisticated quantitative analyses large-scale surveys, voter records, and administrative data from schools. Holbein and Hillygus persuasively argue that there’s more to voting than just knowing and caring about politics. Non-cognitive skills – such as follow-through and grit – play a critical and heretofore undiscovered role in translating political knowledge and political interest into the act of voting. With this signature contribution at the forefront, Holbein and Hillygus offer compelling recommendations for educators that address how schools can do more to cultivate non-cognitive skills and better prepare young people for the act of voting. They also offer clear policy recommendations on how to reform electoral laws to facilitate youth voting. Making Young Voters provides a strikingly original, thoroughly researched, whole-voter approach that will be of great interest to researchers, educators, and policymakers.”
“In Making Young Voters, Holbein and Hillygus provide an authoritative account of why young people don’t vote and what we should do about it. The book rests upon an impressive array of evidence ranging from qualitative interviews with teachers and young people, to survey experiments and policy experiments, to sophisticated quantitative analyses large-scale surveys, voter records, and administrative data from schools. Holbein and Hillygus persuasively argue that there’s more to voting than just knowing and caring about politics. Non-cognitive skills – such as follow-through and grit – play a critical and heretofore undiscovered role in translating political knowledge and political interest into the act of voting. With this signature contribution at the forefront, Holbein and Hillygus offer compelling recommendations for educators that address how schools can do more to cultivate non-cognitive skills and better prepare young people for the act of voting. They also offer clear policy recommendations on how to reform electoral laws to facilitate youth voting. Making Young Voters provides a strikingly original, thoroughly researched, whole-voter approach that will be of great interest to researchers, educators, and policymakers.”
“Hillygus and Holbein draw on theory and evidence across disciplines to not just understand why younger citizens are less likely to vote than older citizens, but also make practical policy recommendations to address this problem. They make a persuasive argument that non-cognitive skills—the ability to “follow through” on intention—are key to understanding why youth are less represented as voters. The authors rightly understand how increasing turnout of youth is key to improving democracy in the U.S. Educators, politicians, community activists, and academics take note!”
“Hillygus and Holbein draw on theory and evidence across disciplines to not just understand why younger citizens are less likely to vote than older citizens, but also make practical policy recommendations to address this problem. They make a persuasive argument that non-cognitive skills—the ability to “follow through” on intention—are key to understanding why youth are less represented as voters. The authors rightly understand how increasing turnout of youth is key to improving democracy in the U.S. Educators, politicians, community activists, and academics take note!”
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