The youth vote.

Forty years after the 26th Amendment lowered the nation's voting age to 18, Americans are again debating the topic of teen suffrage (see article, p. 8). While some advocate extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds as a way of giving youth a greater voice in government, opponents argue that it's a right too few teens would exercise. As the graph shows, youth turnout has fallen far below that of the older population since 1972, the first election year in which 18-yearolds could vote.

This line graph compares turnout among voters by age group. Turnout is the percentage of the eligible citizen population that votes.

ANALYZE THE GRAPH

(1) In 1972, about what percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds turned out to vote?

a 45 percent

b 50 percent

c 55 percent

d 60 percent

(2) The highest turnout among voters ages 25 and older in the past 10 presidential elections was about

a 50 percent

b 61 percent

c 68 percent

d 75 percent

(3) In 2008, turnout among voters ages 18 to 24 was about --percentage points lower than turnout among voters ages 25 and order.

a 6

b 17

c 29

d 35

(4) The election with the greatest difference in turnout between the two age groups was--.

a 1972

b 1976

c 2000

d 2008

(5) Turnout among 18- to 24-year-old voters was about the same in--.

a 1972 and 2008

b 1992 and 2000

c 1972 and 1988

d 2000 and 2008

DISCUSSION OUESTIONS

(1) What are some factors that might affect turnout in a particular election? Based on the graph, do you think the same factors often affect both younger (18- to 24-year-old)...