THE OFFICIAL COLLEGE OUTREACH ARM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Know the Stats

Youth Voting

2008 Presidential Primaries and Caucuses

Iowa
  • 13 percent of eligible Iowans under the age of 30 had participated in the Iowa caucuses.
  • The youth turnout rate rose to 13 percent in 2008 from 4 percent in 2004 and 3 percent in 2000. Young voters expanded as a proportion of all caucus-goers, and the total number of Iowans who caucused grew, producing the three-fold increase in youth participation.
  • Eighty-seven percent of the under-25s said this was their first caucus. Seventy-five percent of those in 25-29 age range said it was their first caucus. Seventy percent of 17-to-24 year-olds who attended the Republican caucuses were from a small city or rural area compared to just 19 percent of 17-to-24 year-olds who attended the Democratic caucuses.
      Source: The Youth Vote in the 2008 Iowa Caucus


New Hampshire
  • 43 percent of eligible New Hampshire citizens under the age of 30 participated in the 2008 New Hampshire primary.
  • The youth turnout rate rose sharply to 43 percent in 2008 compared to 18 percent in 2004 and 28 percent in 2000. Young people increased their turnout more than the older age group.
      Source: New Hampshire Youth Turnout Rises Sharply


Michigan
  • 14 percent of eligible Michigan citizens under the age of 30 participated in Michigan’s 2008 primary.
  • 18-to-29-year-old citizens made up 17% of Democratic primary participants and 13% of Republican primary participants.
      Source: Young Voters Turn Out in Michigan Primary


Nevada
  • Young voters made up 12% of all caucus-goers in Nevada's January 19th caucuses.
  • The overall turnout rate in the Nevada caucuses was 10%, while the rates for young people and those over 30 years old were 5% and 11%, respectively.
      Source: Young Voters Turn Out in Nevada Caucuses


For more information on the Youth Vote and Statistics please visit www.civicyouth.org