Where Have All the Young Voters Gone?

In this study I addressed the concerning decrease in voter turnout among our nation’s young people and what is causing this decrease. I used the American National Election Studies (ANES) Cumulative Time Series Data File to observe voting behavior and the causes of voter turnout. Using Binary Logistic Regression and the Probability of Difference Equation, I found that among the general population, increased education is the most significant factor that leads to voter turnout. I then narrowed the scope to compare causes of turnout between adults aged 17-24 and adults aged 65-74. I hypothesized that a sense of political efficacy would be the leading factor in determining voter turnout among young people. I found, however, that the level of higher education correlates to higher voter turnout among both young and older voters