Based on a series of questions about the upcoming election, Label Networks reveals just how 13-25-year-olds are voting or would vote if they could, plus how they feel about their potential future President, who plans on voting (of those that are eligible), and who they “wish” was a Presidential candidate. The results provide insight about the future when it comes to politics, and which demographics are more likely to get involved compared with others.
Highlights of Label Networks’ Youth Culture Politics Report include the following: Of the voting age demographic of 18-25-year-olds, 85.3% plan to vote in the upcoming election. 86.1% of females plan to vote compared with 83.1% of males. Of eligible age groups, 86.3% of 18-20-year-olds and 81% of 21-25-year-olds plan to vote. Overall, this represents a large portion of the voting population in the United States that plans to vote in the upcoming election, which is why it’s important to know what they’re thinking and why.
When it comes to Presidential candidates, when asked “Who will you (or would you) vote for President?” overall among 13-25-year-olds, 61.4% say they will vote (or would vote if they were eligible) for Barack Obama. This drops to19.3% for John McCain. By gender, 60.3% of females ages 13-25-year-olds plan to vote (or would vote if they were eligible) for Barack Obama, compared with 65% of males. A slightly higher percentage of males plan to vote (or would vote) for McCain.
“Looking at the results by age groups, it’s very telling in that many younger people don’t think so much about “Democrat” or “Republican” but more about the candidates and their meaning, and change is the big issue,” explains Tom Wallace, President of Label Networks.
For example, the younger the age group, the higher the percentages that would vote for Barack peaking among 13-14-year-olds at 64.6%; followed by 62.1% of 15-17-year-olds; 59.8% of 18-20-year-olds; and 58.8% of 21-25-year-olds. Generally, young people are voting more Democratic than Republican and the younger the age group, the higher the percentages for Barrack. What’s also interesting is that there is a divide in youth culture demographics in that while most want change, there is a strong segment that believes John McCain could provide this. On the other hand, there is a strong segment that believes John McCain is simply too old, which is why they lean towards Barack Obama even if he isn’t exactly the candidate they would prefer.
Finally, when asked about who they would like to be a Presidential candidate, whether it could happen or not, top preferences among 13-25-year-olds include Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Bono (U2 lead singer). Also relatively high on the radar include John Edwards, Ralph Nadar, and Oprah. Angelina Jolie is also fairly prevalent, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Colin Powell, John Stewart, and George Clooney.
Of “deceased” potential candidates, top choices are clearly Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lennon.
The margin of error for this study is less than 2.5% at a confidence level of 95%.
