Millennials Let Their Grandparents Decide Local Elections

Young people rarely vote in presidential races -- and even less often in mayoral contests. See which cities have the biggest generation gap in turnout.

Young people have historically voted in much lower numbers than older Americans, and 2016 was no exception. But their absence is most pronounced in elections at the local level. Disparities in turnout -- already vast in presidential and congressional elections -- are even greater in contests that decide who runs the nation’s cities.

A study conducted by Portland State University tallied voter turnout in the most recent mayoral elections in the 30 largest cities. It found that residents 65 years and older were a median of seven times more likely to vote than those ages 18 to 34, who frequently registered turnout rates in the single digits. “There’s an enormous disconnect with younger citizens in understanding the impact that local governments have,” says Phil Keisling, director of the university’s Center for Public Service. “They’re ceding to their grandparents the political decisions.”

A number of factors contribute to dismal youth participation. For starters, young people move a lot, making them less likely to be registered to vote or feel as vested in a city as longtime residents. They also tend to be renters, a demographic that doesn’t cast ballots as often as homeowners, even when they’ve lived longer in a particular place.

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