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Voter Turnout Among College Students: New Data and a Rethinking of Traditional Theories

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  • Richard G. Niemi
  • Michael J. Hanmer

Abstract

Objectives. Traditional theories of turnout are of limited applicability to college students: the concepts and measures associated with these theories were not designed with students in mind, and factors not considered by the traditional theories are relevant. We offer a new theoretical perspective for understanding college student turnout and test it using a new data set. Methods. We conducted a phone survey of college students following the November 2004 U.S. presidential election. We test our theoretical expectations using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results. We find that the usual demographic factors are of little relevance. Turnout is, however, related to the same motivational factors that stimulate older voters, as well as to mobilization by parties. College‐specific factors, such as distance between home and college, are also relevant. Turnout was also higher for students whose hometown or college town was in a battleground state. Conclusion. The results suggest new approaches to the study of young people and how and when they become part of the voting public.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard G. Niemi & Michael J. Hanmer, 2010. "Voter Turnout Among College Students: New Data and a Rethinking of Traditional Theories," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(2), pages 301-323, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:91:y:2010:i:2:p:301-323
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2010.00694.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Phillip J. Ardoin & C. Scott Bell & Michael M. Ragozzino, 2015. "The Partisan Battle Over College Student Voting: An Analysis of Student Voting Behavior in Federal, State, and Local Elections," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 96(5), pages 1178-1195, November.
    2. Bell, D’Wayne & Feng, Jing & Holbein, John B. & Smith, Jonathan, 2022. "Do STEM Students Vote?," IZA Discussion Papers 15483, IZA Network @ LISER.
    3. Tim Powlowski & Dennis Coates, 2013. "The habit for voting, “civic duty” and travel distance," UMBC Economics Department Working Papers 13-05, UMBC Department of Economics.
    4. Melissa R. Michelson & Stephanie L. DeMora & Sarah V. Hayes & Maricruz A. Osorio & Lashonda Renee Carter & Jasmine C. Jackson, 2024. "Motivating student voter registration," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Olugbenga Ajilore & Gayle Alberda, 2017. "Peer Effects and Political Participation: What is the Role of Coursework Clusters?," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 47(1), pages 47-62, Winter.

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