FEATURED: New CIRCLE working paper shows college students respond strongly to an in-person drive; choose to vote “back home” in swing states.
By Kim Castle, Janice Levy, and Michael Peshkin
October 2009
In CIRCLE working paper (#66), authors Kim Castle, Janice Levy and Michael Peshkin assess the outcomes of an in-person campus drive in which students were offered a choice of college-state voting in Illinois, or home-state voting by absentee ballot. The study found that the great majority of students who came from swing states chose to vote back home. Students from swing states preferred home-state voting over local voting by an 8-to-1 ratio. The study also found high turnout rates both for students who voted locally and by absentee ballot. 79% of students who registered locally voted, and 84% of students who got an absentee ballot voted. Although absentee voting is more complicated than local voting, most students chose absentee voting. The study concluded that:
- Students can be diligent voters with high turnout, both by absentee ballot and in local voting.
- Students who can vote in their home state or their college state are strongly influenced in that choice by the closeness of the presidential election.
- Even in the internet era, in-person voter drives reach many students who would not otherwise vote.
*Download CIRCLE Working Paper #66 “Local and Absentee Voter Registration Drives on a College Campus”
*Download the Press Release
Suggested Citation: Castle, K., Levy, J., & Peshkin, M. (2009). Local and Absentee Voter Registration Drives on a College Campus (CIRCLE Working Paper No. 66). Retrieved from Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) website: http://archive.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP_66_CastleLevyPeshkin.pdf
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
That only proves that most students now are developing their social awareness. They are a huge part of the country’s citizens that can really affect the situation.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
[…] CIRCLE – A nonpartisan research center studying youth civic engagement and civic education. »… […]
October 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Youth of today is proving to themselves that their nation needs their support. Wanting to achieve all the positive changes give the youths all courage they need.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
the youth is the future, they always will be so its important to start them off right
October 26th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
[…] October 2009 CIRCLE report has been released about college students and voting. Here are some of the […]
November 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
“Students from swing states preferred home-state voting over local voting by an 8-to-1 ratio”
Interesting. I guess it makes sense but I am surprised by the overwhelming preference for state voting.
January 5th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Candidats should pay more attention to the youth ahywhere they vote. Thats a big auditory.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
The report on student’s voting is absolutely right,as they are the future of our nation just think about future next.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:12 am
Many people believe that youth of today will be our hope for better future. They become more aggressive because of their attitude towards all the issues that we are currently experiencing.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
It’s interesting that in-person voter drives reach many students who would not otherwise vote with the tremendous use of the Internet. But if you can get people to vote, I guess it doesn’t matter the platform.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I think our youth now is more outspoken compared to the previous generation. They strongly fight for what they believe and do what they want. Even the consequences of these acts will seriously affect them.
February 20th, 2010 at 5:24 am
It doesn’t matter whether a student is an absentee voter or not. As long as he/she exercise his/her rights and plays his/her responsibility as a citizen, no big deal.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Civic Youth Engagement plays an important role in nation building and I am happy to find that you are working for this great cause, its an honor. Your working with great enthusiasm, and this what required. Thanks for sharing research.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:51 am
This all is good. Students are taking an active part in elections/polls. This is because of social awareness and good education.
Sam@roofmaintenance
March 7th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I think that people should try to understand their own emotions, I guess this research is helping exactly this cause and so I am thankful.
March 13th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I agree that youth is the future.They should have the rights.
March 28th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Well I think Student voters have the highest turnout ratio as compare to other groups, whether it is by absentee ballot or local voting. This research by Kim, Janie and Michael is very useful to conclude the behavior of students near Presidential Elections. But we can’t rely on one factor for voting because there are many other varying factors person to person. Thank you.
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
mmm… I must to say that this article is really understand for me… I downloaded Press Release and has alredy begun to get acquainted with its contents
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:51 am
I am thankful, because when I downloaded this PDF files I reade this pages not one hour!
April 5th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
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April 5th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
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April 5th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
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April 24th, 2010 at 2:38 am
“79% of students who registered locally voted, and 84% of students who got an absentee ballot voted.”
You are optimistic.. nowadays, teens are not interested about democracy
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:11 am
The problem most of us had with Friedman’s writing was that he was unable to see that one could be mad, could be online, and could be productive all at once.
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:58 pm
its just people in general!
May 6th, 2010 at 3:05 am
The working papers present research results that in whole or in part are suitable for submission to a refereed journal or to the editor of a book, or have already been submitted and/or accepted for publication.
May 14th, 2010 at 7:47 am
it’s great the our youth are being aware about their voting rights.
May 15th, 2010 at 3:47 am
Thank you for this analysis because I’m student of sociological department and I need such surveys for my diploma. I think I can take this subject for the basis. Keep up your work.
May 18th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
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May 20th, 2010 at 5:09 am
But if you can get people to vote, I guess it doesn’t matter the platform.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Today’s youth are more open to their responsibilities as a citizen of their country. More often, they are more mature than the elderly when it comes to decision making on how to express themselves.
May 30th, 2010 at 2:14 am
This all is good. Students are taking an active part in elections/polls.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
That just shows that most students are now developing their social conscience. They are a big part of the country that can really affect the situation.
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 am
The study also found high turnout rates both for students who voted locally and by absentee ballot.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I did read this blog and it was very interesting. I liked the second part the most.