Young people ‘more likely to vote this year’

Young Americans under the age of 30, mobilised in part by strong disapproval of President Donald Trump and a desire for Democrats to control Congress, are likelier to vote this year than they were ahead of midterm elections in 2014 and 2010, a new poll shows.

The survey, from the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, provides new evidence that young voters could play a larger role than usual in this year’s midterms. “The good news is they’re more mobilised than they’ve been in many years,” said John Della Volpe, director for polling at the institute. “The bad news is that they’re mobilised because of the trauma they’ve endured.”

According to the survey, 40 per cent of voters under 30 said they will definitely vote this year — 54 per cent of Democrats, 43 per cent of Republicans and 24 per cent of independents.