SD 1.4

VOTING BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG ADULTS

Voting is a seminal act of citizenship in a democracy. Measures of the voting behavior of young adults may be seen as indicators of the level of youth commitment to becoming actively involved in the democratic process.

Rates of voter registration and actual voting among 18- to 20-year-olds during presidential election years declined between 1972 and 1976, and have stayed rather flat through 1992 (see Table SD 1.4.A). In 1972, 58 percent of young adults ages 18-20 registered to vote, and 48 percent actually voted. By 1992, 48 percent had registered to vote, and 39 percent had voted (see Figure SD 1.4.A).

Differences by Gender. Rates of voter registration and voting are modestly higher among women both over time and within racial and ethnic groups. For example, in 1992, 50 percent of females and 47 percent of males ages 18-20 registered to vote.

Differences by Race and Ethnicity. Hispanic young adults are by far the least likely to register and to vote. In 1992, only 23 percent were registered, and 16 percent voted. Comparable numbers for blacks are 43 percent registered and 32 percent who voted. Whites were the most likely to register (51 percent) and to vote (41 percent) (see Figure SD 1.4.A). Since 1972, the percentage of Hispanic young adults who voted in presidential election years has declined by almost one half, from 30 percent to 16 percent.

Differences by Electoral Cycle. The percentage of young adults who voted in non–presidential election years during these years was substantially lower than the percentage who voted during presidential election years (see Table SD 1.4.B). Rates of registration and voting have been remarkably stable during such years, across non–presidential election years, with overall rates varying by only a few percentage points across years.
 

Figure SD 1.4.A   Behavior in Presidential Election Years: Percentage of Persons Ages 18-20 Who Registered to Vote and Percentage Who Voted, 1972-1992

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 253, No. 293, No. 322, No. 344, No. 370, No. 405, No. 414, No. 453, No. 466, and PPL24-RV, “Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1972-1994,” U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
 
 

Figure SD 1.4.B   Voting Behavior in Presidential Election Years: Percentage of Persons Ages 18-20 Who Registered to Vote and Percentage Who Voted, by Race and Ethnicity: 1992

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 253, No. 293, No. 322, No. 344, No. 370, No. 405, No. 414, No. 453, No. 466, and PPL24-RV, “Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1972-1994,” U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
 
 

Table SD 1.4.A   Voting Behavior in Presidential Election Years: Percentage of Persons Ages 18-20 Who Registered to Vote and Percentage Who Voted, 1972-1992
				1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992
				———	———	———	———	———	———
	Percentage Who Registered  All Races
		Both sexes		58	47	45	47	45	48
		Males		58	46	44	45	42	47
		Females		58	48	46	49	48	50
	White
		Both sexes		60	50	47	48	46	51
		Males		61	48	45	46	43	49
		Females		60	51	48	50	48	53
	Black
		Both sexes		43	34	35	47	43	43
		Males		37	33	36	43	39	41
		Females		49	35	35	51	46	44
	Hispanic
		Both sexes		38	29	20	25	25	23
		Males		39	31	20	22	22	20
		Females		37	27	20	28	27	27
	Percentage Who Voted  All Races
		Both sexes		48	38	36	37	33	39
		Males		48	36	35	34	31	37
		Females		49	40	37	39	35	41
	White
		Both sexes		51	41	38	38	35	41
		Males		51	39	36	35	32	39
		Females		51	42	39	40	37	43
	Black
		Both sexes		31	23	25	36	28	32
		Males		26	22	26	30	26	29
		Females		35	24	25	41	30	34
	Hispanic
		Both sexes		30	22	13	18	16	16
		Males		27	23	12	14	15	13
		Females		32	21	15	21	16	19
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 253, No. 293, No. 322, No. 344, No. 370, No. 405, No. 414, No. 453, No. 466, and   PPL24 RV, "Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1972-1994," U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

 
 

Table SD 1.4.B   Voting Behavior in Congressional Election Years: Percentage of Persons Ages 18-20 Who Registered to Vote and Percentage Who Voted, 1974-1994
			1974	1978	1982	1986	1990	1994
			———	———	———	———	———	———
	Percentage Who Registered  All Races
		Both sexes	36	35	35	35	35	37
		Males	36	34	35	34	34	36
		Females	36	36	35	36	36	38
	White
		Both sexes	38	36	36	35	37	40
		Males	38	36	37	34	36	39
		Females	38	37	35	37	38	41
	Black
		Both sexes	28	28	31	39	30	32
		Males	26	25	25	40	31	31
		Females	29	30	36	39	30	34
	Hispanic
		Both sexes	20	19	20	20	17	20
		Males	18	23	20	19	16	18
		Females	22	16	21	21	19	24
	Percentage Who Voted  All Races
		Both sexes	21	20	20	19	18	17
		Males	21	20	20	18	18	16
		Females	20	20	19	19	19	18
	White
		Both sexes	22	21	20	18	19	18
		Males	23	21	22	18	19	17
		Females	21	21	19	19	20	19
	Black
		Both sexes	14	15	18	21	15	13
		Males	13	15	13	21	15	13
		Females	14	15	21	20	15	13
	Hispanic
		Both sexes	12	11	12	10	10	11
		Males	12	14	12	9	8	6
		Females	13	8	13	12	12	16
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 253, No. 293, No. 322, No. 344, No. 370, No. 405, No. 414, No. 440, No. 453, No. 466, "Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1972-1994," U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.