College Student Voting Surges: Overcoming Historic Low Participation Rates

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EWING, N.J. — Bethany Blonder and her friends lined up at the voter information table in the student union before organizers had even finished setting it up in time for lunch.

It’s true that a fire drill had chased them there from their dorm on the campus of The College of New Jersey, or TCNJ. But the women were also quick to rattle off what they see as the existential issues that make them hell-bent on casting their ballots in the general election.

September 30, 2024

EWING, N.J. — Bethany Blonder and her friends eagerly lined up at the voter info table at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) before it was fully set up. Although a fire drill had displaced them, their main drive was the existential issues compelling them to vote.

Climate change is a prime concern. “All of our lives are at risk — our futures — and the lives of our neighbors, the lives of our friends,” said Blonder, a freshman from Ocean Township, New Jersey. “Every time there’s a hot day outside, I’m, like, is this what it will be like for the rest of my life?”

Historically, Americans ages 18 to 24 have voted in lower proportions, lagging 15 to 20 percentage points behind the general population in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, and even more in the 2010 midterms, per the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, young voter turnout has surged to unprecedented levels. More than half of 18-24-year-olds voted in the 2020 general election, a significant rise from 2016. College students led this surge, driven by concerns like global warming, the economy, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, student loan debt, and gun safety.

Younger students, especially those aged 18-21, voted at the highest rates, indicating a continued upward trend. “You’re seeing a generation of activists,” said Jennifer McAndrew from Tufts’ Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. “The only way we can change it is by voting.”

Young voters have already made a significant impact, deciding Senate races in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania in 2022. Youth voter registrations have soared in states considering referenda on abortion restrictions, with college students credited for electing a liberal candidate to the Wisconsin state Supreme Court.

Student Voter Registration — Aria Chalileh, vice president of student government at TCNJ, helps staff a voter registration table. “These issues being talked about, they aren’t issues that might affect [students] 50 years down the line. They affect them right now,” she says. Credit: Yunuen Bonaparte for The Hechinger Report

Vote.org reports it has registered a record 800,000 voters under 35 for the upcoming election. Both presidential campaigns target students on college campuses, with social media playing a crucial role in engagement. Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris significantly boosted voter registration via Vote.gov.

Organizations like March for Our Lives have been pivotal, teaching young people how to engage with their representatives and register to vote. Despite challenges, including restrictive voting laws in some states, the enthusiasm among young voters remains high.

College Student Voting — Steven Garcia, a sophomore at TCNJ, reads a mail-in ballot at the voter registration table. Credit: Yunuen Bonaparte for The Hechinger Report

First-year students at TCNJ are required to take a community service course, and there’s a voter registration contest among residence halls. The Big Ten Conference and other organizations have also increased student voter turnout through competitions and targeted events.

The polarized political climate makes students even more eager to create change. “It’s very easy to get disillusioned,” said Jared Williams, president of the TCNJ student government. “But there’s no way to end that cycle if you don’t vote.”