Fear, anger, and revenge: why youth voters were motivated for the 2022 midterms

Just how strong was youth turnout in the 2022 midterm elections? About 27% of voters 18-30 years old hit the polls, marking the second-best showing for that age group in more than three decades. While the issues influencing the youth vote were clear, less obvious is whether or not the next election cycle will yield a similar dynamic. Ben Berger, Associate Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College, helped mobilize students on Swarthmore’s campus through a non-partisan initiative. He looks at why this specific demographic was so motivated, and what both political parties might be able to do to influence youth voters in 2024, 2026, and beyond.