You've probably seen the headlines. Every few years, there’s a frantic wave of "Will Gen Z show up?" or "The youth vote is a sleeping giant." Then, the day after the election, the post-mortem begins. Honestly, most people talk about young voters like they're some mysterious, unpredictable force. But when you actually look at the data—the hard numbers from the US Census Bureau and groups like CIRCLE at Tufts University—the story is way more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no."
So, let's get into it. What percentage of 18 to 24 year-olds vote, really?
In the most recent 2024 presidential election, the turnout for this specific slice of the electorate—the 18 to 24-year-olds—clocked in at roughly 47.7%.
That's a pretty heavy number to digest when you compare it to the "grandparents" of the voting world. While nearly half of the youngest voters made it to the polls, folks over 65 were out there at a whopping 74.7% clip. It’s a gap that defines American politics. You've got one group almost hitting three-quarters participation while the other is still hovering just under the halfway mark.
The Rollercoaster of the Last Decade
If you think youth voting is static, you haven't been paying attention. It’s been a wild ride. Back in 2016, the vibe was different. Only about 43% of 18 to 24-year-olds cast a ballot that year. Then 2020 happened.
2020 was an anomaly in almost every sense of the word. Amidst a global pandemic and massive social unrest, the youngest voters surged. The Census Bureau reported that 51.4% of citizens aged 18 to 24 voted in 2020. It was the first time in decades that more than half of this group actually showed up. Everyone thought the "sleeping giant" had finally woken up for good.
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But 2024 saw a bit of a slide back. The 47.7% figure is still significantly higher than the 2016 or 2012 numbers, but it’s a dip from the 2020 peak. Why? Well, researchers at CIRCLE found that many young people felt "politically homeless." Basically, they weren't just "lazy"—a lot of them genuinely didn't like the options. In fact, among 18 to 34-year-olds who didn't vote in 2024, the top reason cited wasn't "I forgot" (though 9% said that); it was "I did not like any of the candidates," a sentiment shared by 24% of non-voters.
It's Not Just a Single Number
Grouping all 18 to 24-year-olds together is kinda misleading. This isn't a monolith. When you peel back the layers, the disparities are honestly startling.
Take gender, for instance. Young women are consistently outvoting young men. In 2024, there was roughly a 7-point gap in turnout between 18 to 24-year-old women and men. This isn't a new trend, but it's getting wider.
Then there's the race factor. The participation rates look like different worlds:
- White youth had the highest turnout in the broader 18-29 category at 55%.
- Asian youth followed at 43%.
- Black youth turnout was around 34%.
- Latino youth saw a significant drop, landing at 32%.
If you're looking for the "power voters" in this demographic, it’s young white women, who turned out at 58%. On the flip side, young Black men and Latino men had turnout rates as low as 25% and 27% respectively.
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The "Swing State" Effect
Geography is destiny when it comes to what percentage of 18 to 24 year-olds vote. If you live in a state where your mailbox is stuffed with campaign flyers and your YouTube ads are nothing but political attacks, you're more likely to vote.
In 2024, battleground states saw much higher youth engagement. While the national average for 18 to 29-year-olds was roughly 47%, places like Michigan (58%), Pennsylvania (49%), and Georgia (47%) showed that when campaigns actually spend money to talk to young people, they show up.
Contrast that with states that are seen as "safe" for one party or the other. Oklahoma and Arkansas saw youth turnout bottom out at around 33%. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy: campaigns don't invest there because they think youth won't vote, and youth don't vote because no one is asking for their support.
Why Do They Actually Stay Home?
We’ve already touched on the "I don't like the candidates" issue, but there are boring, structural reasons too.
Registration is a huge hurdle. Unlike many other democracies where registration is automatic, in the U.S., it's a chore. About 31% of young people who didn't vote in 2024 said they were too busy, ran out of time, or missed the registration deadline.
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There's also the "habit" factor. Voting is a muscle. If you've done it once, you're way more likely to do it again. Data shows that 86% of young people who voted in 2022 also voted in 2024. The trick is getting them into the booth that very first time.
Common Misconceptions
- "They only care about TikTok/Social Media": While they use these platforms, their top issues are actually "boring" adult stuff. In 2024, 53% of youth cited the cost of living and inflation as their primary concern.
- "They are all super liberal": This is shifting. In 2024, we saw a massive rightward shift, especially among young men. Trump actually won 56% of young men, according to some exit polls.
- "College students are the only ones voting": While college students do vote at higher rates than those without a degree, the gap is narrowing as more outreach moves to digital spaces.
What This Means for the Future
The 18 to 24-year-old block is currently part of the largest potential voting group in the country. There are roughly 41 million Gen Z eligible voters right now. Even at a "low" 47% turnout, that is over 19 million people. That's more than enough to flip almost any state.
The reality is that what percentage of 18 to 24 year-olds vote is a reflection of how much the political system is actually speaking to them. When they feel like the economy is rigged or the candidates are out of touch, they sit out. When they feel like their specific issues—like student debt or climate change—are on the line, they surge.
If you're a young person looking to change these numbers, or just someone trying to understand them, here are the actual steps to take:
- Check your registration now: Don't wait for the "too busy" feeling to hit two weeks before the next election. Use sites like Vote.org to see if you're actually on the rolls.
- Look at the local level: Youth turnout in local elections (mayors, school boards) is often under 15%. This is where your vote has the most literal power to change your daily life.
- Ignore the "monolith" talk: Understand that your demographic is diverse. Whether you're a rural voter in Idaho or a student in Boston, your motivations and barriers are different, and that's okay.
The giant isn't sleeping; it's just waiting for a reason to get out of bed.