Young potential voters are the biggest question mark heading into this year’s election season, with 18-29 year-olds expressing less confidence—often by wide margins—in their knowledge of how to participate in the democratic process at its most basic level.
Just half (50%) of 18-29 year-olds say they are “very confident” they know where to vote, compared with 64% of 30-49 year-olds, 78% of 50-64 year-olds, and 84% of those 65 and older.
Only about a quarter of 18-29 year-olds say they know where to get unbiased information about issues (25%) and candidates (24%)—though those numbers both rise to be about four in 10 among those 65 and older.
Across the board, adults of voting age in the U.S. lack confidence that their vote will be counted fairly, with just 29% of all adults and just 23% of 18-29 year-olds saying they are very confident their vote will be counted fairly.
Fewer than three in 10 adults say they are “very confident” that they get unbiased news about several key issues today: racial justice and civil rights, climate change, U.S. politics, local issues, hunger and food insecurity, and COVID-19. On most issues, young adults are slightly less likely to express confidence that the news they read, watch, or listen to is based on unbiased facts.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Thinking about LAST YEAR, which, if any, of the following ways were you involved in politics or causes in your community? (Select all that apply.)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Voted in elections 64%64%64%Encourage other people to vote 51%50%51%Signed petitions 35%33%37%Shared opinions on social media 34%34%35%Encourage other people to take action on a political or social cause or issue that is important to you 30%30%30%Donated money to a candidate, campaign, or political organization 27%28%25%Wrote Members of Congress 18%19%17%Put up a political sign (such as a lawn sign or bumper sticker) 16%17%15%Protested, marched, or demonstrated 10%8%12%Attended local political meetings 9%10%8%Worked for a candidate or campaign 4%4%4%None of these 16%16%17%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Thinking about LAST YEAR, which, if any, of the following ways were you involved in politics or causes in your community? (Select all that apply.)Survey dates: –Now thinking specifically about the past 6 months, in which of the following ways have you been involved in politics or causes on social media?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Used hashtags related to a political or social issue 16%15%17%Posted a picture to show your support for a cause 28%25%30%Seen political ads 45%45%45%None of the above 24%22%25%I don’t use social media. 19%23%16%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: Now thinking specifically about the past 6 months, in which of the following ways have you been involved in politics or causes on social media?Survey dates: –Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your use of social media to get involved with political or social issues that are important to you has increased, decreased, or remained about the same for you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Increased 28%27%30%Decreased 13%14%12%Remained about the same 54%55%53%No answer 5%4%5%Question wording: Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your use of social media to get involved with political or social issues that are important to you has increased, decreased, or remained about the same for you?Survey dates: –Compared to how you felt 6 months ago, how prepared do you feel to make a difference in your community?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very prepared 27%32%23%Somewhat prepared 47%45%48%Somewhat unprepared 15%13%16%Very unprepared 8%7%8%No answer 3%2%5%Question wording: Compared to how you felt 6 months ago, how prepared do you feel to make a difference in your community?Survey dates: –Racial justice/civil rights
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 19%19%19%Somewhat confident 26%24%28%Not too confident 22%21%23%Not at all confident 30%35%26%No answer 3%1%4%Question wording: Racial justice/civil rightsSurvey dates: –Climate change
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 20%20%20%Somewhat confident 30%27%32%Not too confident 22%21%23%Not at all confident 25%30%21%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Climate changeSurvey dates: –U.S. politics
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 15%15%15%Somewhat confident 25%24%25%Not too confident 24%22%25%Not at all confident 34%37%31%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: U.S. politicsSurvey dates: –Local Issues
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 17%17%18%Somewhat confident 44%44%45%Not too confident 20%21%20%Not at all confident 15%17%14%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Local IssuesSurvey dates: –Hunger/food insecurity
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 19%18%20%Somewhat confident 37%37%37%Not too confident 24%24%24%Not at all confident 18%20%15%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Hunger/food insecuritySurvey dates: –COVID-19
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 20%19%21%Somewhat confident 29%28%30%Not too confident 22%21%22%Not at all confident 27%30%24%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: COVID-19Survey dates: –Have you taken action on any of the following issues in the past 6 months? (Select all that apply).
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 COVID-19 42%41%43%U.S. politics 28%30%26%Racial justice/civil rights 26%23%28%Local Issues 23%24%21%Hunger/food insecurity 21%16%25%Climate change 14%13%14%Other (please specify) 4%4%4%None of the above 31%33%30%No answer 5%4%6%Question wording: Have you taken action on any of the following issues in the past 6 months? (Select all that apply).Survey dates: –Your vote will be fairly counted
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 29%31%27%Somewhat confident 35%35%35%Not too confident 20%19%21%Not at all confident 13%13%14%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: Your vote will be fairly countedSurvey dates: –You know where to vote, either in-person or through mail
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 71%73%68%Somewhat confident 16%16%17%Not too confident 5%4%6%Not at all confident 5%5%5%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: You know where to vote, either in-person or through mailSurvey dates: –You know where to get unbiased information about candidates
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 33%35%32%Somewhat confident 34%34%34%Not too confident 17%15%19%Not at all confident 13%14%11%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: You know where to get unbiased information about candidatesSurvey dates: –You know where to get unbiased information about issues (e.g., ballot initiatives, propositions)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Very confident 33%36%31%Somewhat confident 35%35%35%Not too confident 17%16%19%Not at all confident 11%11%11%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: You know where to get unbiased information about issues (e.g., ballot initiatives, propositions)Survey dates: –Some people are registered to vote and others are not. Are you registered to vote where you now live, or aren't you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Yes, registered to vote at current address 83%85%82%No, not registered to vote 9%9%10%Don't know 4%5%4%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Some people are registered to vote and others are not. Are you registered to vote where you now live, or aren't you?Survey dates: –Do you plan to register or confirm that you are registered before the November 2020 general election?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 542 241 301 Yes 43%43%42%No 54%53%55%No answer 3%3%3%Question wording: Do you plan to register or confirm that you are registered before the November 2020 general election?Survey dates: –What are the chances that you will vote in the November 2020 general election for President?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 I have already voted 0%0%0%Absolutely certain I will vote 78%80%76%Large chance I will vote 6%6%7%50-50 chance I will vote 5%4%5%Small chance I will vote 2%2%2%I will not vote 6%6%7%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: What are the chances that you will vote in the November 2020 general election for President?Survey dates: –Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your interest in voting in the 2020 election has increased, decreased, or remained about the same?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 6,132 2,954 3,178 Increased 48%51%46%Decreased 5%5%6%Remained about the same 44%42%46%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your interest in voting in the 2020 election has increased, decreased, or remained about the same?Survey dates: –
Question text
Thinking about LAST YEAR, which, if any, of the following ways were you involved in politics or causes in your community? (Select all that apply.)
-Voted in elections
-Encourage other people to vote
-Signed petitions
-Shared opinions on social media
-Encourage other people to take action on a political or social cause or issue that is important to you
-Donated money to a candidate, campaign, or political organization
-Wrote Members of Congress
-Put up a political sign (such as a lawn sign or bumper sticker)
-Protested, marched, or demonstrated
-Attended local political meetings
-Worked for a candidate or campaign
-None of these
Now thinking specifically about the past 6 months, in which of the following ways have you been involved in politics or causes on social media?
-Used hashtags related to a political or social issue
-Posted a picture to show your support for a cause
-Seen political ads
-None of the above
-I don’t use social media.
Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your use of social media to get involved with political or social issues that are important to you has increased, decreased, or remained about the same for you?
Compared to how you felt 6 months ago, how prepared do you feel to make a difference in your community?
Thinking about the following topics, how confident are you that the news you read, watch, or listen to is based on unbiased facts?
Racial justice/civil rights
Climate change
U.S. politicsLocal Issues
Hunger/food insecurity
COVID-19
Have you taken action on any of the following issues in the past 6 months? (Select all that apply).
-COVID-19
-U.S. politics
-Racial justice/civil rights
-Local Issues
-Hunger/food insecurity
-Climate change
-Other (please specify)
-None of the above
Thinking about voting this November, how confident are you about the following…?
Your vote will be fairly counted
You know where to vote, either in-person or through mail
You know where to get unbiased information about candidates
You know where to get unbiased information about issues (e.g., ballot initiatives, propositions)
Some people are registered to vote and others are not. Are you registered to vote where you now live, or aren't you?
Do you plan to register or confirm that you are registered before the November 2020 general election?
What are the chances that you will vote in the November 2020 general election for President?
Compared to 6 months ago, would you say your interest in voting in the 2020 election has increased, decreased, or remained about the same?
