Proposal – Attending a Talk about Politics

A big problem we are facing in the US electoral system is the uneven distribution of youth voters
throughout the states. You will find a vast history on this topic on different resources, but as
soon as the 2020 election arrived, we saw the transformation in the youth voters and its impact
more interesting. In this discussion, we are more likely to shed light on the participation of the
different age’s voters and the factors affecting it. By providing the reference to the previous
election 2016, the comparison of the involvement of young voters in both years 2016 and 2020
will be defined. This discussion was held between the few university students group in a local
news channel, who presented the points and views according to their perspective on the
electoral system of US. Because it is a vast topic to discuss, one of the important aspects needs
attention that is “Voter Turnout of Youth Participation in US Election.”

The study of young voter turnout across the country reveals substantial disparities between
states, emphasizing the importance of election procedures and systems that encourage young
people to vote. Because the voter participation is increased and seems like a more substantial
group of people, but still lagging in understanding the criteria of deciding the perfect candidate
to vote.

There is a substantial lack of understanding of how the government regulates the election
process. It is estimated that especially young population do not know how government works
and how vote counts. This discussion highlights the issue that the government pays less
attention to young people due to their low voter participation or it may be vice versa of this
situation. When the young voters do not have the responsibility to cast a vote, they will lack
understanding of the system and approaches of the government and take less interest in the
country’s affairs.
 Voter Turnout of Youth Participation in US elections

The election is the official process of choosing a candidate for public office or voting on
accepting or rejecting a political ideology. Voting is essential to the functioning of our system;
after all, voters elect the subsequent decision-maker and the one who can regulate the
government. Voting, on the other hand, is a decision made by citizens based on several
criteria. In the US election, not every person casts a vote. We apply the term voter turnout to
describe who goes to cast a ballot. Although voter turnout may be assessed in various
approaches, when it comes to who can vote or the eligibility criteria, we're thinking about the
proportion or number of eligible voters who vote in a particular election. The concern is to
discuss the whole scenario to let you know about the involvement of the youth population in
choosing the best candidates for the betterment of the country.

The panel discussion was held in the local news channel on 15th September, 2021 where few
university groups of Dearborn came along and sat to start discussing about Voter turnout of
youth participation in US election. The discussion is collectively based on overall US youth
participation in elections, not the specific regions. This panel discussion was mainly focused on
2020 elections because the student of the different universities was observed the increasing
number of youth participation in recent election. The discussion had been started between the
panel and they initiate by contrast with the US and other countries participation of youth. The
reason behind the discussion was transparent as they want to know the reason of this spike and
why US youth did not show interest in previous years.

Previously, the turnout of young voters between the ages of 18-29 was low as compared to the
other countries. But we saw the increasing participation of our young population in the 2020
election as an excellent sign to involve in government affairs. However, one of the reasons we
cannot neglect here is the young voters are less involved in political instances that’s why the
government does not take the risk of involving them in this sincere process. The student panel
also points the previous election that is “in 2016, the estimated young population of voters was
less than the recent elections in 2020”. As a result, we predict that 50% of 18-29-year-olds
voted in the 2020 presidential election, increasing 11 percentage points from 2016 (39%) and
possibly one of the most significant percentages of youth political engagement since the voting
age was dropped 18[CITATION Eri21 \l 1033 ]. The revised calculation is based on newly
accessible voter file data in 41 states—AK, DC, HI, MD, MS, NH, ND, UT, WI, and WY do not
have accurate age-based vote history data. Based on data available at the time, it projected a 5
to 11 point increase in young voter turnout compared to 2016. This study supersedes our prior
estimate, issued shortly after Election Day, which anticipated a highest point rise in young voter
participation compared to previous years. Young people's dedication to political involvement
and participation in 2020, as well as their outstanding ability to discover a transforming electoral
terrain amid a worldwide pandemic, is reflected in our projections of youth voter turnout rates in
more than 80% of states. The data also enables us to expand out and examine patterns in
young voter participation and make some findings of what works and what doesn't when it
comes to broadening and diversifying the youth electorate. For example, in 2020, half of the
eligible young voters cast ballots. However, young voter turnout statistics fluctuated
considerably across the country, as they do in every election cycle.
The highest statewide youth turnout percentages were in New Jersey (67 percent), Minnesota
(65 percent), Colorado (64 percent), and Maine (61 percent), while the lowest was in South
Dakota (32 percent), Oklahoma (34 percent), Arkansas (35 percent), and New Mexico (39
percent). Youth voting rates varied by state, ranging from 32% in South Dakota to 67% in New
Jersey; electoral rules and policies were linked to youth voting rates. These factors include
election competitiveness and leading youth in one platform are:
the amount (or lack thereof) of outreach by campaigns and groups to young people, the state's
civic culture and civic education programs, the demographic makeup of the youth population,
and State voting rules. Throughout 2016 and 2020, statewide turnout increased by an average
of 9 percentage points, but this varied significantly. New Jersey (+22), Arizona (+18), California
(+17), and Washington (+17) had the highest growth in young voter turnout. Between 2016 and
2020, the young voter turnout rate in just one state (Louisiana) remained unchanged, at 42
percent.

The discussion also come around on the positive side of the mirror. The turnout of recently
eligible voters has improved, although it is still below the national average. Youth aged 18-19
have historically voted at reduced premiums than their somewhat older participants, which was
the situation in 2020. Their voting engagement or lack might reveal how successfully – and fairly
— we are educating and grooming young to participate in government. The political involvement
of youth can be the huge contribution in future if the assistance and guidance provided to them.
Also, the lack of awareness in US youth was the point of discussion either which factor stops
them to learn about electoral system of US. Lacking of interest in country’s affairs is one of the
factors that should be eliminating and provide thoughtful guidance before the eligible age. We
also believe that young individuals aged 18 to 19 voted at a rate of 46%[ CITATION Tuf21 \l
1033 ]. Because they are the youngest eligible voters, their electoral engagement, or lack
thereof, can give a window into how well—and equally—we are training and priming
adolescents to participate in the democratic process. Furthermore, voting is a right that, if
acquired and exercised early in life, is more likely to be maintained later in life. On the other
hand, if voting preparation is unjust and unfair early in life, such imbalances can remain.

Meanwhile, some states could reduce the difference; for example, voting participation among
youth ages 18-19 were more remarkable in California and Washington. They also emphasize
the significance of a Growing Voters framework, which says how the educational system,
election officials, and other participants can predict that young people are prepared to vote long
before they reach 18. For the next election, we have to prepare our youth to carry out the legacy
of voting by considering every aspect. At the end of this discussion, all the students who came
to different universities came to one point where they conclude that in future, the participation of
youth in elections should be increased. Also, providing healthy knowledge and making them feel
how important it is to contribute to the country’s affairs.

Reference
Duffin, E. (202,21, March 1 19). Youth voter turnout in presidentia eaectons in the United Stites from 1972
to 2020. Retrieved from Statitaa 1htiass///.itatita.ch omsitatitch is9/9895syout1-voter-
turnout-treiidentaa-eaech toni-uis
Ne/i, T. (202,21, Atria 29). Haaf of t1e Young Peotae Voted in 2,2,, Major Inch reaie From 2,16. Hiaf of the
Young Peopae Voted in 2020, Mijor Increise From 2016.