In tight contests, Democratic candidates have often depended on younger voters for success. Since the 2008 presidential election, Democratic candidates garnered about 60% of support from this demographic, as reported by NPR. Early exit polls indicated that Kamala Harris fell short of this figure, with only 54% backing from those under 30.

As more voter data is released, experts note a general trend where young voters still leaned towards Harris, but a noticeable shift towards Trump emerged compared to the 2020 election. Particularly notable was the increase in support for Trump among young white males.

Approximately 42% of individuals aged 18 to 29 participated in the 2024 election, according to analysis by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. This turnout is lower than the 52% participation rate seen in the 2020 presidential election.

Conversely, around half of the voters aged 18 to 29 made it to the polls in key swing states such as Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Here’s what the latest exit poll data reveals regarding the voting behavior of younger individuals:

According to exit polls compiled by the National Election Pool, voters aged 18 to 29 accounted for 14% of the total ballots cast in the 2024 election.

In comparison, 17% of this age group voted in the 2020 election, as per CIRCLE’s analysis.

Young Voter Preferences in the Election

Among the 18 to 29 age group, 52% voted for Harris while 46% supported Trump. Harris received a higher proportion of votes from this demographic compared to other age groups, as noted by CIRCLE.

Gender Differences in the 2024 Election

Gender dynamics played a crucial role in the 2024 election. Young women preferred Harris over Trump, with 58% casting their votes for her. However, a higher percentage of young women supported Biden in the 2020 election, where 65% chose blue.

A growing percentage of young men backed Trump in the 2024 election compared to four years prior, with approximately 56% voting red, up from 41% in 2020.

Young Voters Focus on Economic Issues

The AP VoteCast survey asked voters to identify which of nine issues they deemed the “most important facing the country,” according to CIRCLE. About 40% of young voters cited “the economy and jobs” as the top issue, followed by concerns over abortion and immigration.

CIRCLE’s findings suggest that young voters prioritizing abortion were more inclined to vote for Harris, while those focused on economic and immigration issues were more likely to support Trump.