Young adults are more conservative than previous generations, according to a poll of 18-24 year olds released July 24 by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. They say “honesty and trustworthiness” is the most crucial quality in the next president, and rate education as the number one issue for the next president and Congress.
According to the poll, six out of 10 young people haven’t paid much attention to the presidential campaign, with 59 percent saying they have followed the campaign “not too closely” or “not at all.”
This younger group of possible voters think they are being ignored, with more than two-thirds, 68 percent, saying that “our generation has an important voice but no one seems to hear it.” But nearly three-quarters, 72 percent, think they could “have an effect on government” if they got involved.
Other key findings of the survey of 1,008 young Americans, conducted in late June, include:
44 percent favor Governor George W. Bush, while 32 percent favor Vice President Al Gore.
30 percent describe themselves as conservative, 37 percent moderate, and 26 percent liberal.
41 percent feel some allegiance to the Republican Party, compared to 26 percent who feel some ties to the Democratic Party. Only 28 percent do not lean toward either major party.
Following honesty as the most crucial quality of a president, “a strong vision,” “extreme intelligence,” “the ability to excite and energize the country,” and “prior executive experience” were most valued.
“Agreement on most issues” was the least valued quality. Their top priorities for the next president and Congress, in order of importance, were education, 81 percent, reducing crime, 65 percent, improving school safety, 64 percent, and long term financial health of Social Security, 54 per cent.
Other high priorities were protecting the environment, providing health insurance to the uninsured, working to reduce racial tensions, and strengthening gun control laws, which were favored by 45 percent to 49 percent.
Nearly six-in-ten young adults, 57 percent, feel disconnected from government.
“If we’re going to have a participatory democracy tomorrow, we need to connect young Americans to the political process today,” said Ellen Shearer, co-director of the Medill News Service. “We must start by listening to them. Politicians and the media need to begin focusing on this generation. That what this pool and project are all about. We need to improve media coverage so it covers what they care about and engages them.”
