Critical Analysis

1. In the 2020 election, voters under age 30 leaned heavily Democratic, favoring Joe Biden over President Donald Trump by a wide margin (61 versus 36 percent). In the 2000 election between Al Gore (D) and George W. Bush (R) the vote of young Republicans and Democrats was roughly evenly divided. According to the data from the chart above, what has happened to the youth vote (ages 18-29) in elections since 2000?

2. What is the best explanation for the voting gap between young Democrats and Republicans?

3. What is the most significant consequence of the voting gap between young Democrats and Republicans?

4. What surprised you most about the data from the chart above?

5. If that trend continues, how would you expect young voters to vote in 2022 and 2024?

6. What are some policy issues that young voters strongly support?

7. If you were in charge of the 2022 GOP midterm election campaign how would your campaign strategy be impacted by the fact that 2/3 of all young voters cast ballots for Democrats in 2018?

8. If you were a Democratic campaign strategist for the 2022 midterm election explain whether you would focus on issue that matter to young voters.

9. My student, Salem made the following claim. “Yes the young people almost all vote Democratic but it doesn’t matter because most young people don’t vote.” Respond to Salem’s claim using your inside voice and facts, reason, or logic.

10. Consider the people your age. Does their political affiliation mirror that of the young electorate?

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Action Extension

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