• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, November 14, 2011

According to a new study from Scarborough Research, Young Voters (American adults aged 18-24 who say they are registered to vote in the district of their residence) make up 10% of all self-identified registered voters. These Young Voters are much more social media savvy, more evenly spread across the political spectrum and more racially and ethnically diverse than all self-identified registered voters.

Young people across the country are looking forward to having their voices heard and their votes counted.

According to the study, 72% of Young Voters have used social media via internet in the past 30 days or on their smartphones, as compared with all registered voters, 45% of whom have used social media in the same time period. 

Young Voters are 12% more likely to have made an internet purchase in the past 12 months, more than twice as likely (131%) to watch video clips on their smartphones, and 73% more likely than all registered voters to use search engines on their smartphones.

Young Voters are more diverse than all registered voters. 

However, says the report, candidates still have their work cut out for them in order to win over the Young Voters. Many Young Voters are just reaching voting age and still making up their minds. The top local markets for 18-24 year olds, are:

• Salt Lake City (18% of adults)
• Syracuse, NY (17%)
• El Paso, TX, Harlingen, TX, Fresno, CA and Bakersfield, CA (16%)
• San Diego and Rochester, NY (15%)
• Oklahoma City and Norfolk, VA (14%)

To read the PDF file for more information and the Scarborough release, please visit here.