New Analysis Shows Black Youth Voting Picking Up

A new Lake-Goeas Poll analysis, published in PDF format at Civicyouth.org, shows that youth voter turnout increased in 2006 for the second election in row, with turnout by young African Americans increasing. (Direct URL for PDF: http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/PR_06.pdf.)

Broken down, the analysis data suggest that young African Americans provided "Key Democratic support" in the November election, which shifted the balance of power in Congress to the Democrats' favor. In other findings, young African Americans were 12 and 19 points more likely to say they were “almost certain” to vote than either young whites or young Hispanics, respectively.

Analysis of preliminary exit poll and survey figures also suggest that "Thirteen percent of young voters (ages 18-29) self-identified as Black, compared to 10% of the overall voting population.

The analyses were published by CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, with Young Voter Strategies, a project of the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University, with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The release uses estimated figures, based on analysis of early November exit polling data, and adjustments are expected to be made on an ongoing basis at least throughout the year. Nonetheless, the general trend indicating a continued increase in young voter particpation is a positive sign that eligible youth voters, including college students, are strengthening their collective political clout.

THE BLACK COLLEGIAN will continue to follow and report on developments as new information is released.