WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - A recent report shows a deepening divide between young voters who attend college and those with no college experience.
The study, conducted by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Education (CIRCLE), compares the voter turn-out among Americans between the ages of 18 and 29. A quarter of young Americans with college experience showed up to vote during the primaries compared to one in 14 young voters with no college experience.
"The overall rise in young Americans voting this primary season has been remarkable, but itâ??s disproportionately well-educated young people," said CIRCLE Director Peter Levine. "Campaigns and interest groups mobilize youth on college campuses, but itâ??s harder to reach non-college youth, whose membership in unions, religious congregations, and community groups has fallen since the 1970s. We need to find a way to counteract this inequality and motivate all young people to vote so that their priorities and perspectives get attention."
Levine identified early Social Studies classes as indicators of civic participation. He said many teachers are starting to feel the pressure of standardized tests so they do not incorporate enough current event topics in their lessons.
"Discussing current events is very important," he said. "Teachers can also do new things like simulate an election with computer games or have visits from local officials. Research shows that schools can boost young people's participation by providing civic education in the form of social studies classes, service opportunities and other activities."
Another part of the problem is the inaccessibility of young people who choose not to attend college.
"I think it's not completely education. The other factor is that it's hard for candidates to campaign to non-college young people," said Levine. "If you want to campaign to college students you simply go to campuses."
Levine points to one organization that is successfully reaching non-college voters. Generation Engage was founded by a group of young American who were disappointed following the 2004 elections.
"After the last election, we felt our democracy really needed to be promoted as a dialogue and not a monologue," said co-founder and Executive Director Adrian Talbott. "Everything we do promotes interactive discourse with civic leaders. Our targeted demographic is the 49 percent of 18-29 year-olds who have no college experience. We take them and connect them through a very cool Apple technology called I-Chat to civic leaders vying for their support."
The lack of participation among the working class of young Americans is reflected in the campaigns. Levine believes this will change if more groups like Generation Engage continue their efforts.
"Their issues are almost completely ignored," he said. "For example, the unemployment rate is catastrophic for young Americans who leave high school either before or after graduating and enter the work force. It's 18%. You never hear anybody talking about youth unemployment in the election. It's not a college issue. If they voted, their voices would be heard and if their voices were heard, we'd have different sort of election."
