Dear John,
In the leadup to the 2022 midterms, there’s been much speculation as to whether young voters will continue the trends started in 2018, and turn out in record numbers. According to the latest Harvard Youth poll, turnout among young voters is expected to match or even exceed the record set in 2018. Per the poll, a solid 40 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds say they will “definitely” vote in the Nov. 8 midterms.
What’s more, young voters tend to support liberal candidates over conservative ones – over half (57 percent) of young voters prefer Democratic control of Congress, compared to under a third (31 percent) who prefer Republican control. The Harvard poll also found that abortion is a top priority, particularly for young democratic voters.
Of course, we already knew this — not just because you’ve told us in your overwhelming response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, but because our own polling, released earlier this month, confirms it. For young women across the nine battleground states where the elections will determine which party controls Congress, abortion and women’s rights are the top issues driving their votes in the midterm elections. Among women voters of all ages, abortion and women’s rights are just as important as inflation in determining their votes.
Why is this the case? Young women’s lives and future plans are already being deeply impacted by the Dobbs decision. The Ms. poll shows over half (53 percent) of young women in battleground states have had their future plans impacted by abortion bans in some way: 44 percent have either considered moving or are making plans to move to a state where abortion is protected, and 10 percent already have declined a job in a state where abortions are banned.
The outcomes of elections in the battleground states are critical: if Democrats maintain control the House, and gain a net of two seats in the Senate, they’ll be able to break the filibuster — and restore abortion rights, voting rights, and ensure the Equal Rights Amendment is added to the U.S. constitution. We’re closely monitoring those key races.
We’re also keeping a close eye on ballot measures which could help secure abortion protections in Michigan, and add an ERA to the Nevada state constitution. Read more about these ballot measures below.
