When you turn 18, you’re legally considered an adult. This comes with a multitude of new responsibilities in this country – not the least of which is access to the ballot box. With Atlanta’s 2021 municipal elections on the horizon, ACC spoke to potential new voters from this cohort to hear their thoughts on local politics and the power of the youth vote.
In the 2020 general election, half of the younger generation, ages 18 to 29, submitted their ballot, according to an analysis published by Tufts University. That’s an 11-point increase from the 2016 election cycle, but among that age group, folks aged 18 or 19 vote at a lesser rate — around 46 percent.
The federal elections are flashier and garner more publicity, so will young Atlanta voters have a similar turnout for the city’s upcoming local elections?
