Michigan had the highest youth voter turnout rate of any state in the 2022 midterm election — 36.5%, more than 13 percentage points higher than the national youth voter turnout estimated at 23%.
That’s according to new data released by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life in Medford, Mass.
Michigan was one of only four states that had a higher youth turnout in 2022 than in 2018, which nationally had the highest youth turnout of any midterm in the past three decades. The national turnout estimate is based on data from 39 states for which age-specific data is available.
“Michigan young voters showed up in very high numbers for a midterm election and they had an impact on key issues and races,” said Abby Kiesa, CIRCLE deputy director. “The state’s strong turnout is a testament to what can happen when youth are supported by facilitative election laws and hard work from local organizers.”
With core issues such as voter suppression, reproductive rights, gun reform, and climate change on the ballot, young people are disproportionately impacted by the political choices made today. Last fall, we had an election that had the potential to set us back years, but young Black and Brown Detroiters showed up and turned Michigan into one of the most progressive states in our country.
– Branden Snyder, Detroit Action executive director.
Michigan implemented key electoral policy changes in recent years with voters approving two constitutional amendments in 2018 and 2022. The changes from Proposal 3 of 2018, which were in effect for the 2022 election, included same-day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, straight-ticket voting and more.
Michigan had the largest increase in the number of youth registered to vote between 2018 and 2022.
Organizations on the ground in Michigan also did critical work to engage youth in the state.Detroit Action, a social justice nonprofit, turned out voters leading to two ballot measures wins Proposal 2, the voting rights amendment to their state constitution, and another Proposal 3 to enshrine abortion rights. Nine of their 11 endorsed candidates who won their races.
“With core issues such as voter suppression, reproductive rights, gun reform, and climate change on the ballot, young people are disproportionately impacted by the political choices made today. Last fall, we had an election that had the potential to set us back years, but young Black and Brown Detroiters showed up and turned Michigan into one of the most progressive states in our country,” said Branden Snyder, Detroit Action executive director.
“The midterms were a wake-up call for any politician who doesn’t want to address the problems young people face. The fact is youth involvement on the local level is growing, and we know this trend will only continue until we collectively build a world where younger generations have the potential to not only live, but thrive.”
Rebeka Islam | Courtesy photo
Rebeka Islam, APIA Vote MI executive director, said she “is proud to witness that our Michigan youth are more actively turning out to the polls, encouraging others to vote, and utilizing our democratic right.”
“As the political landscape reflects a sense of urgency with respect to increasingly polarized discussions surrounding human rights and other impactful concerns, our youth are actively responding by taking urgent action and participating in the creation of our tomorrow,” said Islam.
“We are incredibly proud of our community and support our youth in actively participating in our democracy. Our organization and others who are on the ground will continue to work to advocate so that our youth can be directly seen, heard and represented at all levels of government.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SUBSCRIBE
authored by Ken Coleman
First published at https%3A%2F%2Fmichiganadvance.com%2F2023%2F04%2F21%2Fstudy-michigan-youth-turnout-far-outpaced-the-national-average-in-the-2022-election%2F
Comments are closed.