Predictors of Voting in the 2014 Midterm Elections

Teach civics early and often

The belief that voting is a civic duty was a key predictor of voting among millennials in the 2014 elections. Those who strongly agreed that it is their civic duty to vote were much more likely to vote than those who held weaker beliefs. Even millennials who agreed with the statement that voting is their civic duty, but did not agree strongly, were significantly less likely to vote than those who strongly agreed.

Takeaway: Convincing millennials that voting is a civic duty is the most direct way to get them to the polls. While it is commonly believed that civic education occurs in schools, American schools are increasingly diverting resources away from social studies and towards other subjects(1). To convince millennials to vote, it is vital that civic education takes place outside of the classroom and the importance of voting as a civic duty is emphasized.

 

All politics are local

Among millennials who either agreed, but not strongly, or neither agreed nor disagreed that voting is a duty, those interested in local politics were much more likely to vote those who were not interested in local politics.

Takeaway: Particularly among those who do not feel a civic duty to vote, engaging millennials in local politics may increase their voter turnout.

 

We can now project a winner…

Among older millennials (over 25 years of age) who strongly believe that voting is a civic duty, those who feel that elected officials do not serve their generation’s interests well are extremely likely to vote. In fact, with 95% of them reporting casting a ballot in the 2015 elections, they are the single most likely group to vote.

Takeaway: Emphasizing the shortcomings of elected officials’ policies regarding youth interests may increase voter turnout among millennials.