Youth Civic Engagement

Youth Civic Engagement

William GalstonProfessor, School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland.Director, CIRCLE

Registration and Voting

60%

70%

83%89%

24%

34%

53%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

DotNet GenX Boomers Matures

Registered to Vote Always Votes (age 20+)

Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.

Follows Government and Public Affairs

24%37%

50%60%

46%

45%

36%

33%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%


Very Often Sometimes Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.

Community Problem Solving

21% 22% 25%

15%

17% 14%

22%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%


Last Year Ever Done


Regular Newspaper, TV News, and Radio News Exposure

30% 32%

48%

66%

38%

47%

63% 65%

33%

52%

61%55%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

DotNets GenX Boomers Matures

Newspapers TV News Radio NewsSource: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.

Tolerance/Appreciation of Diversity

60%54%

50%

39%

60% 61% 59%

42%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

DotNet GenX Boomer Mature

Homosexuality should be accepted

Immigrants strengthen the country


Distrust of People

70%

59%

49%

40%

56%

41%36%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


Most people look out for themselvesMost people would take advantage of you


Pro-Government responses to questions

64%

51%

43%38%

65%60%

54% 53%

65%

49% 50%44%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Gov't does more to solve problemsGov't regulation protectsGov't does better job than credited


Changing Priorities Among College Freshmen: Money Counts

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Perc

en

t

develop meaningful philosophy of lifebecome well off financially

Source: HERI Freshman Survey, 1966 to 2000.

Interest in Public Affairs Among College Freshmen is Down

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

important to keep up to date with politicalaffairs (college freshmen)discussed politics in high school (collegefreshmen)follow public affairs (all 17-24s)


Volunteering Among College Freshmen is Up Since 1989

60

65

70

75

80

85

performed volunteer work in high school


Fewer Liberals, More Moderates Among College Freshmen

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

19

70

19

71

19

72

19

73

19

74

19

75

19

76

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

Perc

en

t

middle of the road conservative or far right liberal or far left


A New Gender Gap Opens Up Among College Freshmen

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Perc

en

tage P

oin

t D

iffere

nce

Men WomenIncoming college freshmen who call themselves “liberal” or “far left,” minus those who call themselves “conservative” or “far right”.


Youth Voter Turnout is Down

Presidential Years

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

25+ turnout 18- 24 turnout

Alternate Years

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1974

1978

1982

1986

1990

1994

1998

25+ turnout 18- 24 turnout

Source: Current Population Survey (CPS), November Supplement, calculated using CIRCLE method.

Voter Turnout by Educational Attainment, 18-25 year olds

Presidential Years

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

Non- College College

Alternate Years

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1974

1978

1982

1986

1990

1994

1998

Non- College College


Youth Share of the Electorate has Fallen

Youth Share of the Electorate: Presidential Years

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

19

72

19

76

19

80

19

84

19

88

19

92

19

96

20

00

18-24s as proportion of adult citizens18-24s as proportion of adult residents18-24s as proportion of voters

Youth Share of the Electorate: Alternate Years

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

19

74

19

78

19

82

19

86

19

90

19

94

19

98

18-24s as proportion of adult citizens18-24s as proportion of adult residents18-24s as proportion of voters


A Growing Gender Gap in Youth Voter Turnout

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

18- 24 Turnout, Men

18- 24 Turnout, Women


Describing Voting, 15-25 year olds

32%34%

37%

33%

28% 27%

21% 22%19%

8%11% 12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

White African American Hispanics

"a choice" "a right" "a responsibility" "a duty"

Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.

Importance of Voting among 18-25 year olds, by Educational Attainment

83%

17%

76%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Important Not Important

College Non-College


Making a Difference, 15-25 year olds

48%

41% 40%

51%

58% 58%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

White African American Hispanic

great deal/ some a little/ almost no/ no


Making A Difference, 18-25 year olds, by Educational Attainment

56%

43%40%

58%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Great Deal/ Some A Little/ Almost No/ No

College Non-College


My Vote Counts, 18-25 year olds

88%81% 84%

12%18% 15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


agree disagree


Trust in Government, 15-25 year olds

65%

59%56%

34%

40% 42%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


a lot/ some a little/ not at all


Youth Attitudes Towards Civic Education & Community Service Requirements, 15-25 year olds

43%

66%

81%

64%

55%

31%

17%

33%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Require HSCommunity Service

Civics/ GovRequirement for HS

Diploma

Offer Chance to doFull Year of Service& Earn Money for

College

Civics/ GovRequirement for

Middle School

favorable unfavorable


Attitudes Towards Making Civics/Government Classes a Requirement for a HS Diploma, 15-25 year olds

43%

69% 72%

51%

27% 25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No Correct PoliticalKnowledge Answers

One Correct PoliticalKnowledge Answer

Two Correct PoliticalKnowledge Answers

favorable unfavorable


Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement

www.civicyouth.org

www.puaf.umd.edu

Documents

Youth Civic Engagement