CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement)
conducts research on the civic and political engagement of young Americans.
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement

2010 College Student Voting – Part 1

May 31st, 2011
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We’ve shown how youth voting differs a great deal by education level. In April CIRCLE calculated the 2010 youth voter turnout using the newly-released Census Current Population Survey (CPS) data. The analysis included estimates by educational experience, showing dramatic differences. A 16 percentage point gap separates the turnout of those with college experience from those without.

This release also included an estimate of college student voter turnout (18-24), which was 26.5%, just slightly outside of the margin of error from the 2006 turnout of 27.3%. Both of these estimates are higher than that year’s turnout for all youth, indicating that, statistically speaking, current college students (on average) are more likely to vote than other youth (with the exception of young people who have graduated from college already).

As much as sample sizes allow, we tried to dig into college student voting to a greater extent. Here’s some of what we found for 2010:

The fact that 23% of current students didn’t vote because they were ‘out of town or away from home’ will concern a lot of people, including GOTV groups who work hard to make sure this happens as little as possible. It is also significant that only 12% of 2010 student non-voters did not vote because they were “not interested” since this counters many media portrayals of students, which rarely include political engagement.

-Abby Kiesa

6 Responses to “2010 College Student Voting – Part 1”

  1. Catalina Ruiz-Healy Says:

    HI there,
    I am looking for voting rates by kind of higher educational insitutution; i.e., community college vs 4 yr- Do you have this info?

    Thanks!

  2. CIRCLE Says:

    Hi Catalina –

    Thanks for your question. We do have the ability to do that. Are you looking for 2008 data, or 2010 data?

  3. Stephanie Says:

    Do you have the ability to break this down per state? I need data specifically on Florida if possible. 2008 would be wonderful and 2010 as well if you have it.

  4. Raven D. Says:

    Hi there. I am actually doing research on student voting and the imapact of student voting, I would like to know if you have any information/ statistics on this topic. Thanks!

  5. A race to 100! | TurboVote Says:

    […] 66% of students who did not vote in 2010 missed the election for logistical reasons, according to a CIRCLE study. Some were away, some forgot. Only 12% reported that they missed the election because they were […]

  6. A race to 100! « Blue Ridge Foundation Says:

    […] 66% of students who did not vote in 2010 missed the election for logistical reasons, according to a CIRCLE study. Some were away, some forgot. Only 12% reported that they missed the election because they were […]