Youth Voters in Wisconsin Mobilize Around Key Issues in 2024

In the 2024 election, 327,160 votes came from Wisconsin’s youngest voting demographic (ages 18-24), according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. 

Overall, about 73% of Wisconsin’s voting-age population cast ballots in the 2024 presidential race, with nearly 3.4 million voters, the highest in state history, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press.

While youth voter participation has varied significantly across recent elections, 2024 marks a critical point in understanding whether the high engagement seen in 2020 could be sustained.

Many concerns directly spoke to the lives of young voters, mobilizing them in 2024. Reflecting a mixture of enthusiasm and hesitation, shaped by personal experiences and the influence of pressing social issues.

In the 2020 presidential election, 50% of young people, aged 18-29, voted, marking an 11-point increase from 2016, when only 39% of eligible voters participated, according to the Circle.

Historically, youth voter turnout surged in 2008 and 2012, driven by Barack Obama’s unique appeal among younger voters.

In Wisconsin, young people ages 18-29 demonstrated strong turnout in 2008, with a registration rate of 63.9% and a voter turnout rate of 57.5%, according to the Circle.

Notably, 90% of registered young voters in Wisconsin turned out to vote in 2008, according to the Circle. By 2012, youth turnout stayed strong, with 58% of voters aged 18-29 participating, according to the Circle.

However, in 2016, youth participation dropped slightly, only to surge again in 2020 amid nationwide protests for social justice and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2016, youth voters, ages 18-29, in Wisconsin gave Clinton a 4-point advantage over Donald Trump (47 to 43%). Trump ultimately won Wisconsin by less than one percentage point, according to the Circle.

In Wisconsin, 14% of all votes cast in 2020 came from young voters, ages 18-29. Of these, 58% supported Biden, while 39% backed Donald Trump, according to the Circle. 

Young voters were a decisive force, and Wisconsin achieved a 72.3% voter turnout in 2020—the highest since 2004, when turnout reached 72.9%, according to USA Today, which sourced the Wisconsin Elections Commission. 

Key Issues Driving Young Voters in 2024

“I was almost not going to vote myself,” said Honesty Ocasio, 19. “I felt like my vote did not matter… If it were still between Biden and Trump, I probably would not be voting. But this election is important because we have a woman running, a woman of color.”

“Trump’s tax policies benefit the wealthy, and my family isn’t part of that tax bracket,” she said. Despite her initial reluctance, Ocasio’s experience highlights how some young people feel about this election. 

Young people face a complex political landscape. The question arises whether this demographic will continue its engagement. Additionally, how will the future candidates respond to the issues that matter most to them?

Other young voters, like Marco Porras, 20, were motivated by concerns over public education. “It’s important to vote because Wisconsin is a swing state,” said Porras. “The issue that concerned me the most is public education funding.”

For some, voting represents a way to advocate for their family’s experience.

“It’s important to speak up about issues that are important to oneself, and voting is an easy and huge way to do that,” said Herve Simo, 20, a child of two Mexican immigrants.

“My parents have fought for over 25 years to belong here, both legally and in a societal sense,” he said.

For Kaya Schwartz, issues around reproductive rights were the most important. Restrictions on women’s rights have made the stakes of voting feel more personal.

“There will be direct, detrimental consequences for a large portion of the country,” said Schwartz. 

Voter Registration

In 2008, the Circle reported that 21% of young non-registered voters missed the deadline, showing a gap despite same-day registration options.

“Talking to my parents and being at the polls, I noticed a lot more people were coming in to vote unregistered, like myself,” said Ocasio.

Since 2004, youth registration rates have improved, but the challenges remain. While Wisconsin’s youth voting block remains critical in shaping outcomes, the issues they care about are continually evolving. 

As Wisconsin’s 2024 turnout numbers settle, it remains to be seen if the enthusiasm seen in 2020 and now in 2024 will hold in future elections.