More than 54% of Americans aged 18-29 voted for John Kerry this year, providing him a 10% margin of victory among young Americans. Youth turnout rose 9% since 2000 to 51.6% and was the highest since 1972.
Four years ago, the Democrats won the youth vote by 2 percent. In 2004, John Kerry picked up a larger percentage of the youth vote than any Democratic candidate for President since 18 year olds gained the right to vote with the 26th amendment.
"Make no mistake: young Americans voted this year, and they voted for Senator Kerry," CDA National President Grant Woodard said. "All the wild-eyed predictions from the College Republicans and the Republican National Committee the past few years about picking up youth voters were totally unsubstantiated. In fact, they lost ground."
In the battleground states, youth turnout reached 64%, and support for Senator Kerry was even higher. Senator Kerry won with a 16 point margin in Wisconsin, 14 points in New Hampshire, 14 point margin in Ohio, 17 point margin in Florida, and 21 point margin in Pennsylvania. The youth vote made a crucial difference in Wisconsin and New Hampshire, and almost put the Democratic Party across the finish line in Iowa and Nevada.
"The extraordinary performance of young Americans gives us real hope for the future of the Democratic Party," Woodard said. "The College Democrats on more than 1100 campuses that fought for the Democratic Party this year will not give up the fight for a better tomorrow - now or ever. And we know now, for sure, that we can make a difference."
