Research
Young Americans’ Political Representation
Old money: Campaign finance and gerontocracy in the United States
Politicians in the United States rank among the oldest globally. This study examines how money in politics contributes to age inequality in political representation. Using record-linkage to construct a novel data set combining the ages of voters, donors, and candidates, we find that the median dollar in US elections comes from a 66-year-old—significantly older than the median voter, candidate, or elected official. Results from within-district and within-donor analyses confirm that age proximity with candidates increases contributions on the extensive and intensive margins. Finally, we simulate candidate fundraising by age under a hypothetical campaign finance voucher policy.
Authors: Adam Bonica and Jake Grumbach
Rock the registration: same day registration increases the turnout of young voters
Studies find that same day registration (SDR) laws increase turnout, but less is known about which kinds of voters are most affected. Young people are disproportionately burdened by traditional registration laws because they frequently change addresses and infrequently interact with government agencies providing registration services. SDR laws, which lower the cost of registration, should increase turnout most among young people. Laws that lower the cost of voting but not the cost of registration should be less effective at increasing youth turnout. Difference-in-differences estimates suggest that SDR disproportionately increases turnout among individuals aged 18–24 (an effect between 3.1 and 7.3 percentage points). The effect of SDR on young voters is especially pronounced in presidential elections. By contrast, the effects of early voting and other reforms are smaller and do not consistently vary by age. The results suggest that expanded SDR may produce a younger electorate.
Authors: Jake Grumbach and Charlotte Hill
The Berkeley Initiative for Young Americans
Young people coming of age in the 21st Century are facing new and complex social, political, economic, and environmental risks. The Berkeley Initiative for Young Americans’s path-breaking research helps us better understand these challenges and develop the public policy interventions needed to solve them.
Lowering the voting age to 17 in California.
For over 50 years, the minimum voting age in the U.S. has been 18 years old for national, state, and most local elections. Yet in recent years, researchers, policymakers, and youth advocates across the U.S. and around the world have questioned whether the voting age should be lowered to engage more youth in the democratic process. The intent of this policy report is to inform the debate to lower the voting age in California to 17 for all elections (local, state, and national) as proposed by Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA) 2.
Authors: Avalon Bauman, Erin Heys, James Hawkins, and Sarah Swanbeck
In this mixed methods research project, we aim to understand how the Millennial and Gen Z generations are reacting to new risks that have evolved in American society in recent decades. We research changes in generational values, beliefs, and worldviews that shape risk perceptions and political behavior. This project provides a foundation for understanding the unique worldviews and perspectives of younger generations and their desire for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future.
Talk Policy To Me is a podcast that spotlights the personal stories and creative solutions from the next generation of public policy leaders. It’s brought to you by the Berkeley Initiative for Young Americas and the Goldman School of Public Policy. On the show, we highlight advocates, policymakers, and researchers who are doing innovative work – those people who show us that policy is both powerful and personal.