Peer pressure could boost youth engagement in 2024, new survey finds

From podcast appearances to celebrity endorsements, Vice Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump He is doing his best to attract young voters to the polls in the final days of the 2024 presidential campaign.

These efforts appear to be working, according to Harris.

The Harvard Youth Poll released Friday showed Harris leading Trump nationally by 20 points among registered voters under 30. large swing states Where the race was more competitive – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin – Harris’ lead fell to 9 points.

The secret to getting young people to vote? Potentially peer pressure. Those aged 18 to 29 who think their friends plan to vote are more than twice as likely to say they plan to vote themselves, according to the survey.

John Della Volpe, director of polls at the Institute of Politics, said in a statement that not only the politics of the two candidates but also peer influence could determine “young turnout and ultimately who will be the next president” in this election.

Youth He is expected to play a key role in the outcome of the tightening race for the White House. In a handful of states, the election could be fought by razor-thin margins, and turnout among critical demographic groups could offset the difference.

Both Harris and Trump appealed to court Generation Y and Generation Z voters In the last days of the campaign. Trump took aim at popular fight matches and podcasts hosted by people like YouTuber Logan Paul. indecisive young people. Harris, meanwhile, has turned to social media campaigns and endorsements from high-profile celebrities, among them. Taylor Swift And Billie Eilish increasing support among young women.

These strategies are evident in the stark and growing gender inequality.

When President Joe Biden was in the 2024 presidential race earlier this year, his lead among young women was nine points higher than among young men. With Harris becoming the Democratic nominee, the gender gap increased to 20 percent. Harris currently leads by 10 percentage points among young men and 30 percentage points among young women.

And the gender gap isn’t just in youth. In the latest USA TODAY/University of Suffolk poll, 53 percent of women said they supported Harris, while 53 percent of men said they supported Trump.

Some young people who support Trump may be less likely to vote, according to a Harvard Youth poll. The poll found Trump had an 11-point advantage among young men who are less likely to vote, while Harris was ahead among male voters.

The survey was conducted between October 3 and 14 and surveyed 2,001 Americans ages 18 to 29. The margin of error in the total sample was +/- 2.64%. When looking specifically at registered voters, it rose to +/- 3.05%, and for questions examining likely voters, it rose to +/- 3.61%.