NextGen America/Data For Progress Poll Reveals Two-Thirds of Young Pennsylvanians are Enthusiastic to Vote in the 2022 Election

Exclusive new polling shows increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour and strengthening the economy are top priorities for 18-36-year-olds in Pennsylvania

Austin, TX — Today, NextGen America and Data for Progress released new research revealing strong enthusiasm among young Pennsylvanians to vote in the 2022 election and underscoring the importance of increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, strengthening the economy, canceling student debt, reforming the criminal justice system and addressing climate change.

Among Pennsylvanians aged 25 to 36 surveyed, more than a third said they were more excited than usual to vote in 2022, with an additional 37 percent saying they were as excited. Among all those surveyed, 27 percent indicated higher enthusiasm for turning out next year.

“We witnessed historic turnout from Young Pennsylvanians last cycle and our data shows they’re ready to keep up the momentum in 2022,” NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said. “As NextGen launches its statewide program in Pennsylvania, our top priority will be building on this foundation and ensuring every young person has the tools they need to raise their voice and participate in our democracy.”

The NextGen America-Data for Progress poll also measured the top issues facing young people in Pennsylvania. As young voters look ahead to the next election, they’re sending clear signals on their top priorities and the concerns they believe our leaders should be addressing.

At the top of their lists are concerns about liveable wages and the economy. Increasing the minimum wage to $15 and strengthening the economy each received a 21-percent plurality from respondents as the single most important issue facing young people in Pennsylvania. When asked to rate the top five issues for young people, 59 percent included strengthening the economy, and 48 percent identified the higher minimum wage.

Young Pennsylvanians’ focus for 2022 isn’t strictly limited to these concerns: 48 percent of respondents identified canceling student debt as a top-five issue, along with 42 percent who said reforming the criminal justice system and 41 percent who named addressing climate change and transitioning to clean energy.

The poll’s release on Wednesday coincides with the launch of NextGen America’s Pennsylvania voter mobilization program for the 2022 election cycle and beyond.

NextGen is embarking on a $32 million voter-outreach program aimed at reaching 9.2 million voters between the ages of 18 and 35 across eight key states in 2022. In addition to Pennsylvania, the program calls for on-the-ground field organizing in Texas, Arizona and North Carolina as well as a distributed digital organizing program in Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

NextGen formally launches the Pennsylvania program today with an in-person voter registration event at the Community College of Philadelphia featuring NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez. At the event, NextGen will recruit volunteers, register young voters and educate the community about the importance of exercising their rights by voting in elections.

Members of the media are invited to attend the voter-registration event. For more information on the poll or event logistics, please contact press@nextgenamerica.org.

More information on the NextGen America-Data For Progress Poll is available here:

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About NextGen America

NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-35 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world. Since 2013, NextGen America has registered more than 1.4 million young voters and educated many millions more, delivering more than the margin of victory for progressives in key races and building an electorate that will lead American politics for decades to come.