Young voters hailed as key to Democratic successes in midterms
GuardianDec 23, 2022
US Midterms: Young Voter Turnout Second Highest in 30 Years
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Image copyright: AP Photo [via Al Jazeera]
The Facts
As Democrats celebrate their better-than-expected performance in Tuesday's midterm elections, increased focus has been put on the effect young voters had on the outcomes in several states.
Researchers say the recent midterms had the second-highest turnout among voters under 30 in at least the past three decades, with around 27% of voters between the ages of 18-29 casting a ballot. The 2018 midterms saw the highest turnout among young voters, with about 31% voting.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Young voters have made their voices heard by telling the political establishment that they won't stand for anti-democratic politicians, namely Republicans, who want to take away their rights and distract from real issues, such as climate change and access to abortion. The future of the Democratic party, and consequently for the country as a whole, is with young Americans who want to build a more fair and equitable nation.
Republican narrative
America's youth has become increasingly politically illiterate: Schools and universities have been peddling woke ideology for years now, distracting many young voters from key priorities. The result is young people who want policies that "feel good" but are incapable of making the tough choices that come with governing a nation.
