Candidates are competing for worker votes, Black votes, Hispanic votes and other demographics. But one group of voters who have the potential to influence the outcome are less likely to go to the polls: voters between the ages of 18 and 29.

John Holbein, an associate professor of public policy, politics and education at UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, reported in 2016 that 90% of young Americans were interested in politics and 80% planned to vote, but only 43% he did this. he stated in his 2020 book, “Creating Young Voters: Transforming Civil Attitudes into Civil Action.”

UVA Today caught up with Holbein to see what’s going on with today’s young voters.

Question: Since the “youth vote” became a thing in 1972, both major parties have made significant efforts to win over voters aged 18-29. How big of a voting bloc does this group consist of, and could it have a big impact in national elections?

Answer: By some estimates, Generation Z makes up about 20% of the US population. Latest population projections show that more than 30 million Gen Z citizens will have the opportunity to vote in 2024.

Millennials are now the largest demographic group in the United States, surpassing Boomers in 2020. That’s enough voters to influence the election. The obvious question is, “Will young voters actually show up and vote?” While low rates of youth voter turnout are considered normal, history shows this is not the case.

Q. Why hasn’t the youth demographic reached significant numbers in most U.S. elections? Are there similar turnout rates among young voters in other countries?

C. Youth voter turnout is significantly low in the United States. The “age gap” in turnout rates between older and younger voters is largest in the United States compared to other (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. There are likely numerous reasons for this gap, including (but not limited to) enrollment barriers specific to the United States.

Q. Are there any programs or efforts that are effective in turning out younger voters?

A. My research showsYoung people appear to be particularly sensitive about how difficult it is to register to vote. Reforms that make registration easier, such as same-day registration and pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, have been shown to be effective in increasing voter turnout, especially among young people.

Q. How would a stronger youth vote impact the election?

A. Young people lean heavily toward Democrats. Youth reported voting Democratic by a 2-to-1 margin. Youth turnout could be the difference between a Democrat winning or losing. However, it must be acknowledged that many marginal young voters are Republicans.