Why Millennials Don't Vote for Mayor

A large share of millennials who vote in national elections opt to bypass local elections. This research sheds more light about why and highlights ways to encourage greater civic engagement locally. This research identifies that a key barrier to greater millennial participation in local elections is trustworthy information. But the research also shows that millennials are not actively seeking this information and it will be important to reach them through their existing social networks and community affiliations.

Recent studies have shown that Americans have higher levels of trust in local government than federal government. This may be true, but this research suggests millennials struggle with clearly understanding the roles served by local government. Demonstrating to millennials how local government affects their lives and its importance in addressing the issues they passionately care about in their community will be vital for encouraging them to vote in local elections.