Young American voters often overlooked by campus-focused campaigns

Discussions regarding young voter engagement in the United States often focus heavily on college students, yet significant portions of the youth electorate are being overlooked. Data from Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) indicates that 51% of Americans aged 18 to 29 have no college experience.

Voter turnout disparities are notable; in the 2022 midterms, 50% of young people with a bachelor’s degree voted, compared to 20% of those whose highest level of education was a high school diploma. While political campaigns frequently target university campuses, experts suggest that reaching non-college-educated youth may require engagement at job training centers, recreation centers, or music festivals.

Apprenticeship programs, such as those within the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), represent a growing demographic of young adults entering the workforce outside of traditional academic institutions. These programs provide a different pathway to adulthood and political engagement for a large, politically consequential group of young Americans.