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%
DotNet GenX Boomers Matures
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%
DotNet GenX Boomers Matures
Last Year Ever Done
Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.
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
Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.
Distrust of People
70%
59%
49%
40%
56%
41%36%
29%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
DotNets GenX Boomers Matures
Most people look out for themselvesMost people would take advantage of you
Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.
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%
DotNets GenX Boomers Matures
Gov't does more to solve problemsGov't regulation protectsGov't does better job than credited
Source: The Civic and Political Health of the Nation, A Generational Portrait, 2002.
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)
Source: HERI Freshman Survey, 1966 to 2000.
Volunteering Among College Freshmen is Up Since 1989
60
65
70
75
80
85
performed volunteer work in high school
Source: HERI Freshman Survey, 1966 to 2000.
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
Source: HERI Freshman Survey, 1966 to 2000.
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”.
Source: HERI Freshman Survey, 1966 to 2000.
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
Source: Current Population Survey (CPS), November Supplement, calculated using CIRCLE method.
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
Source: Current Population Survey (CPS), November Supplement, calculated using CIRCLE method.
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
Source: Current Population Survey (CPS), November Supplement, calculated using CIRCLE method.
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
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
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
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
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
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
My Vote Counts, 18-25 year olds
88%81% 84%
12%18% 15%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
White African American Hispanic
agree disagree
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
Trust in Government, 15-25 year olds
65%
59%56%
34%
40% 42%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
White African American Hispanic
a lot/ some a little/ not at all
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
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
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
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
Source: CIRCLE/Council for Excellence in Government Youth Survey, Jan 2002.
Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement
www.civicyouth.org
www.puaf.umd.edu