New York Youth Show Low Interest ‍in Voting

Announcement by the ‌non-profit organization ‘The Civic Center’ reveals low⁢ voter registration rates among 18-year-olds in New York State.

Voter registration rate for 18-year-olds: 42.7%, significantly⁤ lower than 77%​ for those aged 45 and‍ over.

As⁢ the presidential election gains momentum across the United States, data from the nonprofit organization The Civic Center indicates that ‍young people in New York are not showing much enthusiasm for voting.

According to voter registration data released by The Civic Center, the voter‍ registration rate for 18-year-olds in New⁣ York State as of July 12 was 42.7%, up only 2.3 percentage ​points ⁢from 40.4% on May 22, just before the primary election. This ⁢figure is 35 percentage points lower than the state’s 77 percent voter registration rate among voters 45 and older.

The voter registration rates for 18-year-olds vary across New ‌York City boroughs, with the Bronx having the lowest rate at⁤ 20.9%, ⁤followed by Brooklyn at 23.5%, Queens at 31.9%, Manhattan at 32.2%, and Staten Island ⁤at 41.2%. Every borough ​in New York City had a voter registration rate below the ‌state average.

As‌ of August, there were approximately 136,000⁢ 18-year-olds ⁢in New York who were not⁤ registered to vote, according to‍ The Civic Center.

“Young people in New York don’t seem to care much about this election,” said‍ Laura Brill, CEO of The Civic Center. “The less politically competitive a state is, the less political activity⁤ there is targeting young people. New ​York is not a ‍very competitive state, so ⁢it seems‌ like they’re not focusing on expanding the young voters, including teenagers and young ​adults.”

New York State operates a ‘pre-registration system’ for ⁤youth aged 16-17, which recorded a pre-registration rate ⁣of⁢ 20.1% as of August 12, less than half of the 18-year-old voter‍ registration rate. New Yorkers ages 16 and 17 who register as potential voters ⁤cannot vote until they turn 18.

According⁣ to federal census data, 51.4% of voters ages 18 to 24 ‍voted in the 2020 presidential election, the highest turnout since ‌2000. The deadline to register as a new voter for New York’s Nov.​ 5 general election is Oct. 26.