Young people plan to vote next week, but don’t feel like this election is any different than others

That’s according to results from GenForward’s latest survey, which Supercreator got a first look at. For those who won’t vote, they believe that their vote doesn’t matter or won’t change anything.

Nov 02, 2022

President Joe Biden puts an “I Voted” sticker on his granddaughter Natalie Biden, who voted for the first time, at a polling station last Saturday, in Wilmington, Delaware. Photo by Associated Press

First Things First

Supercreator got a first look at the latest GenForward survey, which covered topics including voting and democracy, current events, and citizenship and belonging. And since we’re less than a week away from the midterms (six days, but who’s counting?), I was particularly interested in what the almost 2,300 respondents, ages 18 to 40, had to say about the election.

A few immediate takeaways:

More than seven in 10 Democrats say they will probably or definitely vote in next week’s election, with 68 percent of Republicans saying the same.
For those who won’t vote, the belief that their vote doesn’t matter or won’t change anything is represented by voters of all political ideologies. Frustration with the political system and candidates who don’t represent their political beliefs are ideas are also reasons cited for a lack of enthusiasm.
Most voters, no matter their ideology, feel this year’s midterm elections are about the same as other midterm elections. This is interesting because Democrats, including President Biden, have worked overtime to label the elections as the most consequential midterms in our lifetimes.
As expected, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade made 60 percent of Democrats more likely to vote in the midterms. The decision doesn’t impact whether a plurality of Republicans or Independents will vote next week.
On the issue of inflation, 41 percent of Democrats say it makes them more likely to support Democrats. 58 percent of Republicans say it makes them more likely to support Republicans. Less than 15 percent of Republican or Democratic respondents said inflation made them more likely to support the other party — an indication that the election will come down to turnout and is less about persuading a wide margin of undecided voters.
The majority of young voters are unconcerned about voting fraud, eligible voters being denied the right to vote, the loss or discarding of votes, politicians meddling with voting machines, or politicians falsely claiming voting fraud where there is none. Democrats expressed more confidence than Republicans and Independents that the votes in the 2022 midterm elections will be counted accurately.
Both Democrats (46 percent) and Republicans (43 percent) say they have quite a bit to a great deal of interest in following news about the upcoming election. More Independents responded with no interest at all than their partisan counterparts.

The balance of power in Congress and across state legislatures nationwide will rest in which party can turn out the most voters from its coalition.

Republicans, as is often the case during midterm elections where the other party is in power, are thought to have an enthusiasm advantage over Democrats. It obviously doesn’t help that the costs of rent, food and home energy have working people pinching pennies in an otherwise robust economy. Not to mention, the GOP has reprised the fear-based messaging it turns to every election season, this time to brand itself as the party of law and order while voting against almost every bill that would invest in public safety dating back to last spring.

Democrats are hoping that the overturning of Roe v. Wade, historic climate investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, and student debt cancelation will galvanize young people to help the party stave off a red wave. They also argue that there’s still so much to get done in the next two years — police reform, universal pre-K, re-upping the expanded child tax credit, marriage equality, voting rights, abortion rights, paid family leave — and all of it will be next to impossible with a Republican House or Senate majority

There’s also the Supreme Court, which is a wild card that in recent years has proven the adage that “elections have consequences” is more than cliché.

If you’re going to vote next Tuesday, make a plan so you know who all’s on your ballot and what you’re voting for or against.

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Today is Wednesday, November 4. Welcome to Supercreator, your guide to the politicians, power brokers and policies shaping how creative professionals work and live in the new economy. Send me tips, comments and questions — or say hi: michael@supercreator.news.

Today in Politics

President Biden this morning will receive his daily intelligence briefing before viewing workforce training demonstrations by labor unions and leading companies in the afternoon. Then he will speak about the administration’s work to strengthen the infrastructure talent pipeline and train Americans for jobs in broadband, construction, and manufacturing.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden this afternoon will attend and speak at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Pittsburgh. Following this event, Dr. Biden will attend and speak at a political event with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten, and the Pennsylvania State Democratic Party in Pittsburgh. She will speak at a political event in Allentown, Pennsylvania for Democratic Reps. Susan Wild and Madeleine Dean as well. The first lady will also attend Game Four of the 2022 World Series in Philadelphia and join players, umpires, coaches, and fans in Major League Baseball’s annual Game Four tradition of honoring those affected by cancer as part of the league’s support and partnership with Stand Up To Cancer.

The House and Senate are out.

2022 Election

→ President Biden spoke to Rickey Smiley, a nationally syndicated radio host, during a pre-taped interview that aired on Tuesday morning. Topics included the administration’s ongoing efforts to advance equity and opportunity for Black Americans and the importance of voting.

→ 62 percent of Americans report being more motivated to vote by the news of a national abortion ban, including 77 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of pro-choice Americans, according to a new poll. Nearly four in five Democrats and seven in ten Black Americans and Hispanic Americans say the prospect of a nationwide abortion ban makes them more motivated to vote.

→ A federal judge in Arizona blocked an election-monitoring group from voter-intimidation tactics like taking photos and carrying guns near ballot boxes. (Ken Bensinger / NYT)

→ FYI: President Biden next Monday will travel to Columbia, Maryland to participate in a rally for the Democratic National Committee.

Congress

→ Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham must testify in a Georgia inquiry into 2020 election interference, the Supreme Court ruled. Graham had challenged the subpoena as unlawful because his alleged poking around was in his capacity as a sitting senator. (Adam Liptak and Richard Fausset / NYT)

→ Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to urge the FTC to review property owners’ and landlords’ use of price optimization software to set rent following reports that the software’s algorithm inflated rents and suppressed competition in the housing market.

→ Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska was approved to be the next president of the University of Florida. The lawmaker, in his second term as a US senator, had faced opposition for his views on social issues, including same-sex marriage and abortion. (Eric Levenson / CNN)

White House

→ White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement on the recent wave of nationwide gun violence. A shooter on Tuesday targeted two law enforcement officers from a rooftop in Newark, New Jersey, the rapper Takeoff was shot dead in Houston at 28 years old, 14 people were injured by gunfire — including three children — in Chicago, and six people were injured, including a teenager, who was killed at a Halloween party. “Enough is enough,” Jean-Pierre said. “Gun violence in this country is an epidemic that will not end with thoughts and prayers alone.”

→ The State Department awarded $47.6 million to a California-based company to help the government of Ukraine locate and remove landmines, unexploded and abandoned military weapons, ammunition, and equipment, improvised explosive devices and other explosive hazards from civilian areas.

→ Related: US intelligence shows Russian generals have had high-level discussions about using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. (Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes and Eric Schmitt / NYT)

→ Related II: Russia said it was rejoining a deal that allowed grain shipments to depart from Ukraine’s ports just days after the country pulled out. The move is expected to ease uncertainty for countries facing food shortages. (Matthew Mpoke Bigg and James C. McKinley Jr. / NYT)

→ The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the availability of more than $148 in funding for multifamily-assisted housing property owners to cover the costs of improvements and other measures that protect residents from COVID-19.

→ The Justice Department awarded more than $136 million to reform state and local juvenile justice systems. The funding will also provide funding for youth violence prevention and intervention services, support mentoring programs and reentry services for young people and their families, meet the needs of vulnerable youth and study.

→ The Department also announced almost $105 million in grant funding to protect children from exploitation, trauma and abuse, and to fund improvements in the judicial system’s handling of child abuse and neglect cases.

→ The Census Bureau released details on how it is preparing for the 2030 Census, including research that is underway, the planning timeline and details on how the public can provide input on the design and planning of the next census. The census informs a wide range of government, business, and nonprofit decision-making and the data it collects is used to determine political representation in Congress.

→ The US Agency for International Development entered a five-year agreement to open more career options, mentorship, and training pathways for university students to pursue the USAID Foreign Service and careers in international development. The partnership will also provide USAID with an avenue for research collaboration on international social-justice movements and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility learning and recruitment.