BYP MEMO ‘Youth, Race, and Partisanship’: In 2012 No Party Can Take Young Voters for Granted
The Black Youth Project’s latest memo examines partisanship in youth voting patterns as we approach the 2012 elections.
Analysis shows that while young voters are often believed to be overwhelmingly Democratic, partisanship and vote choice vary considerably across racial groups. These patterns have significant implications for how campaign and community organizations mobilize support and turnout among young voters in upcoming elections.
The study casts doubt on the idea that all youth consistently support the Democratic Party. Youth are not a consistent voting bloc per se, with race, education, income, and gender all serving as important sources of variation in youth voting patterns.
The memo, entitled “Youth, Race, and Partisanship,” is the fourth in a series entitled Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics released by the Black Youth Project.