Website will gauge youth enthusiasm in real-time over course of Election Day
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, NextGen America launched a website to track turnout in 41 “Youth Vote Indicator Precincts” across 11 states on Election Day. Over the course of Election Day, NextGen America will monitor these precincts and compare turnout rates to the 2014 midterm elections. NextGen has been working to engage young people both on and off campus, and these precincts represent districts where a diverse range of young people live. More than 50% of all registered voters in these precincts are between the ages of 18 and 35, and they will serve as a real-time barometer of youth vote enthusiasm across the country.
“Young people have been leading the resistance against Donald Trump and his Republican Congress for the past two years,” said NextGen America Deputy Political Director Ben Wessel. “We’ve seen young people register to vote in record numbers this year, and come Election Day, we expect them to show up to the polls to make their voices heard.”
Early vote data and polling already show encouraging signs of increased youth turnout this year. On Sunday, NBC and Wall Street Journal release a poll showing 51% of young voters expressed high interest in voting this year. In Virginia, early voting has already shattered all other previous records.
In 2017, NextGen America organized thousands of young voters at 26 campuses across Virginia and registered over 20,000 young Virginians to vote. The result was a turnout increase among young voters of over 8 points from 2013, and a string of Democratic victories across the Commonwealth. NextGen also tracked turnout at Youth Vote Indicator Precincts over the course of Election Day. You can see the results here.
With young voter enthusiasm skyrocketing, NextGen America is running an unprecedented campaign to mobilize young Americans and flip the House. NextGen has registered over 253,000 young people to vote this year, and just last weekend alone, knocked on over 120,000 doors. NextGen also recently launched a final $4 million digital ad campaign to educate and motivate young voters in the weeks leading up to November 6th.
The Youth Vote Indicator Precincts website is part of NextGen Rising, the $33 million program to engage, register, and turn out young voters in 11 states across the country. With a presence on over 420 campuses, a digital program to reach young people who aren’t on campus, nearly 7,100 volunteers, and over 700 staff, NextGen Rising is the largest youth organizing program in American history.