Young Adults and Voting 

The Problem with Participation 

Civic engagement is all about how people participate in government and politics – from protesting and volunteering in the community to attending local meetings and, of course, voting. It's essential because it lets representatives know how citizens feel about important issues. In the United States of America, our government reflects the level of participation from its people. 

The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE, has analyzed young adults, ages 18-29, voting practices. What they found is that although there has been an upward trend in young adult voter turnout over recent elections, a large group of potential voters still remains unrepresented in the electoral process. During the 2020 presidential election, approximately 52-55% of adults in their 20s participated in voting nationwide, demonstrating a notable increase compared to the 42-44% turnout observed in the 2016 election. Despite this progress, a large portion of people are not going to the polls, therefore not being represented in the government. 

But it's not just about the Executive Branch; even state politics and congressional representation can be impacted by low voter turnout among young people. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, only 9.7% of Utah's 18-29-year-olds voted in 2016, and in 2020, it was 12.2%. These were presidential elections, which usually have more voters compared to midterms that impact Congress representation. During the 2018 election, only 8.8% of young adults voted. And that's a concern because members of Congress represent their states in the House of Representatives and the Senate. So, if young people don't vote, they won't be represented in national politics, and their votes won't have an impact on their local communities.