2008 Press Releases
November 5, 2008
Preliminary CIRCLE Projection: Youth Voter Turnount Up
Medford/Somerville, MA - Preliminary CIRCLE projections show the turnout for young Americans (ages 18-29) is higher than in 2004, a year of significant increase, and is much higher than it was in 2000 and 1996.
CIRCLE estimates youth voting after elections based on several variables, including the total number of ballots counted. Currently, the actual turnout estimate is unclear because of precincts that have not reported and the significant number of Americans who voted absentee; these votes will not be fully counted for some time, affecting the total number of ballots counted. At 12 pm on Nov 5th, about 120 million votes had been counted, but many states are far from reporting 100% of precincts. CIRCLE’s preliminary estimates are based on a range of possible vote counts, from a 120 million to 133 million.
November 4, 2008
National Exit Polls Report Youth Represented 18 Percent of Voters (CIRCLE Press Release)
Medford/Somerville, MA - Young people (ages 18-29) represented 18 percent of the voters in today’s election, according to the early released National Exit Polls (NEP) conducted by Edison/Mitofsky. This is the one point higher than in 1996, 2000, and 2004, when young voters represented 17 percent of voters in each presidential election, according to the NEP. However, this number does not indicate how many young people voted or whether there was a rise in youth turnout. In recent elections, the youth share of the vote remained constant, because youth turnout rose at the same rate as the total turnout. See the table below for more information on the difference between turnout and share.
October 6, 2008
USA TODAY AND MTV SURVEY YOUNG PEOPLE ON VOTING AND POLITICAL ISSUES
McLean, Va. and New York — A USA TODAY/MTV/Gallup poll surveying youth voters, ages 18 – 29, is available today on USATODAY.com, MTVNews.com and ChooseorLose.com. MTV will also be reporting poll results on-air and a USA TODAY cover story by Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page is available in the newspaper today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-05-poll-youth_N.htm).
September 23, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Rock the Vote's latest poll of 18-29 year olds shows young voters are increasingly engaged in the upcoming presidential election, driven by concerns over the faltering economy and a sense that our country needs a new direction. Concern over the economy, while a top issue for young people since 2006, has intensified and is now the number one issue this election for nearly half (41%) of 18-29 year olds.
The political leanings of young voters have remained steady since Rock the Vote's last poll in February: when asked for whom they would vote for president in November, 56% said Barack Obama and 29% said John McCain.
September 10, 2008
Rock the Vote Embarks on The Road Trip '08
Rock the Vote, the leading organization for youth and politics, has announced plans for a three week road trip designed to fully maximize voter registration, education, and engagement efforts in key youth markets.
Already it’s a historic year for Rock the Vote. More than 1.4 million people have registered to vote through www.rockthevote.com, making this the largest youth voter registration drive in history. In the last two weeks alone 231,371 people have downloaded voter registration forms from Rock The Vote’s website. Additionally in 2008, Rock the Vote has engaged more than 2.5 million members and over 100,000 mobile phone activists, plus innovative online programs are attracting the attention of millions more. Now we are taking our efforts to the streets, to build our community street teams, engage new voters in person, and inspire millions to get involved.
May 29, 2008
McCain, Obama Respond To WWE®’s Voter Issues Paper
STAMFORD, May 29, 2008 – Sen. John McCain believes lower taxes and less regulation will unleash growth in the private sector, while Sen. Barack Obama believes that investing in America through the rebuilding of roads and bridges is the path to future economic growth. Both candidates see technology focused on improving the environment and alternative energy sources as a driver of jobs for young adults.
May 2, 2008
WWE® Asks Presidential Candidates To Address The Issues
WWE’s Smackdown Your Vote! today released the 2008 18-30 Voter Issues Paper (VIP), a guide to help young adults articulate the issues important to them in this national election, and a platform through which the candidates can provide their responses to issues important to this voting demographic.
April 21, 2008
CLINTON, OBAMA MCCAIN FIGHT FOR YOUR VOTE ON "MONDAY NIGHT RAW®" TONIGHT
STAMFORD, Conn., April 21, 2008 -- The night before an important Pennsylvania primary, Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain will each make a very special appearance on athree-hour edition ofWWE®'s "Monday Night RAW" tonight on the USA Network starting at 8 p.m. ET.
April 15, 2008
Free Internet Game from Cable in the Classroom Offers Users Chance to Run Their Own Presidential Campaigns; Provides Multimedia Educational Tool for Schools
Washington, D.C. – As more Americans turn their attention to the race for the White House and the Pennsylvania primary next week, an online learning game – new and improved for 2008 – lets players call the political shots in presidential campaigning. The 2008 eLECTIONS: Your Adventure in Politics game was released this week by Cable in the Classroom (CIC). To read the full press release, please click here.
January 30, 2008
Washington, DC - 13 percent of eligible Florida citizens under the age of 30 participated in last
night’s Florida primary, according to preliminary estimates by CIRCLE (The Center for
Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). More than 150,000 young people
participated in the Florida Democratic primary, despite the fact that the Democratic primary
was not fully contested (see Table 2.)
January 27, 2008
Washington, DC - 19 percent of eligible South Carolina citizens under the age of 30
participated in the South Carolina primaries, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The
Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The primaries attracted
an estimated 120,000 young voters to the polls.
January 9, 2008
Washington, DC - 43 percent of eligible New Hampshire citizens under the age of 30 participated in last night’s New Hampshire primary, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The youth turnout rate rose sharply to 43 percent in 2008 compared to 18 percent in 2004 and 28 percent in 2000. Young people increased their turnout more than the older age group. The youth turnout rate increased by 15 percentage points over 2000 while the turnout rate for those ages 30 and above increased by only six percentage points.
January 4, 2008
Washington, DC – Thirteen percent of eligible Iowans under the age of 30 participated in
last night’s Iowa caucuses, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for
Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The youth turnout rate rose
to 13 percent in 2008 from 4 percent in 2004 and 3 percent in 2000. Young voters
expanded as a proportion of all caucus-goers, and the total number of Iowans who
caucused grew, producing the three-fold increase in youth participation. Youth supported
both winners—Senator Barack Obama (D) and Governor Mike Huckabee (R)—by the
largest margins of any age group.