Young Voters Swayed Since 2008
*Reprinted with Permission
In 2008, most of the young voters ages 18-25 took to the polls and punched the blue ticket. Since 2008 those same voters were dissuaded from making the same decision.
According to a press release, published by Luna Media Group, the demographics for which President Obama received votes have changed since his first election.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), in the past election 98% of young black women voted for Obama, 41% of young white men voted for Obama, and there were many indications that some groups are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama.
According to the press release, most young white men who voted for Obama in the 2008 election are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama. In addition, young Hispanic women were detailed as the most liberal of groups during the 2012 election.
In a second study, CIRCLE and Tufts University released the following statements:
Young Black and Hispanic women provided the strongest support for President Obama. A majority admired him, much as they did in 2008. Young Hispanic women voters were the most liberal of all groups. Compared to older Hispanic voters, they were more liberal and less likely to be religious. Women voters were more liberal and supportive of President Obama than their male counterparts of the same race/ethnicity. Women also considered President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy an important factor in deciding their votes.
Young White women, the most influential youth constituency because of their size and turnout, were split in half on many issues that challenge our nation, including their choice for president, their view of the government, and abortion. Young White men, as a group, held a quite different view of the President, the role of the government, and how to move forward with immigration reform than all the other groups. They were unhappy with the way the economy was, and wanted Governor Romney to improve the economy. Young Hispanic men cast 9% of the youth vote, up from 6% in 2008.
Among the minority groups, they were most likely to affiliate with the Republican Party or consider themselves independents, but two-thirds of them voted for President Obama. Young Black men voters were somewhat more conservative and younger in 2012 than in 2008. Young Black men voters were less excited about President Obama than Black women voters in 2008, and the voters in 2012 were more likely to identify as Republicans and Independents than they did in 2008.
Although a majority of Black men voters supported President Obama again, a larger portion of them voted for the Republican candidate this year than the same group did in 2008. Young White women’s influence in the youth electorate has decreased since 2008, while Hispanic influence has increased: 42% of young voters were persons of color – and for the first time, the Hispanic vote share surpassed the Black vote share. In 2008, the Hispanic youth vote was 14% of the youth electorate.
This year, it increased to 18%. Asian-American voters now represented five percent of the youth vote. Male voters were generally more conservative and less supportive of President Obama. Among male voters, the most notable trend was a decrease in support for President Obama among young Black men since 2008. Young voters were generally supportive of abortion and same-sex marriage regardless of gender and race. President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy won back youth support, especially from young women of color.
At the conclusion of the 2012 election, President Obama was able to procure the presidency, namely due to his support from young voters and the support of all different genders and races. To find more information or read the press release, visit civicyouth.com.
Kevin Coyne, 2012, Features Editor (The Glacier)
About the Author
Kevin Coyne , Class of 2012, is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Becker Journal Online. Kevin now serves as a regular writer and Features Editor of The Glacier, student newspaper of Morraine Valley Community College of Illinois.
*Coyne, Kevin M.. “Young voters swayed since 2008 | The Glacier.” The Glacier | The Student Newspaper of Moraine Valley Community College. N.p., 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. <http://www.mvccglacier.com/2012/12/young-voters-swayed-since-2008/>.
