A series of memos and fact sheets released by the Black Youth Project of the University of Chicago, Black Youth and the Future of American Politics will explore what role youth, in particular black youth will play in the 2012 election, and what barriers exist that could dampen their participation.
- Youth, Race, and Partisanship: While young voters are often believed to be overwhelmingly Democratic, partisanship and vote choice vary considerably across racial groups. These patterns have significant implications for how campaign and community organizations mobilize support and turnout among young voters in upcoming elections.
- Youth, Race, and Voter Mobilization: A new analysis of voting data shows that mobilization works to turn out voters. But when it comes to youth, especially among young blacks, both political parties are failing to mobilize significant numbers and the historic youth turnout in 2008 may not be repeated in 2012.
- Historic Turnout Among Black Youth in 2004 and 2008: A new analysis of voting data examines how the historic youth voter turnout in 2008 among young blacks and Latinos could impact the 2012 election. Analysis shows education, income, and gender are key sources of variation in youth turnout.
- The Racial Impact of Voter Identification Laws in the 2012 Election: Examines the impact of recent legislation in five states that will require voters to display government-issued photo identification before voting in the 2012 election. The analyses suggest that voter turnout among African Americans may be significantly reduced, and that photo-ID laws may dilute the influence of black votes on election outcomes.
Black Youth and the Future of American Politics