Getting Out the Youth Vote: Results from Randomized Field Experiments

Abstract

Prior to the November 7, 2000 election, randomized voter mobilization experiments were conducted in the vicinity of college campuses in New York State, Colorado, and Oregon. Lists of registered people under the age of 30 were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. A few days before Election Day, the treatment group received a phone call or face-to-face contact from Youth Vote 2000, a nonpartisan coalition of student and community organizations, encouraging them to vote. After the election, voter turnout records were used to compare turnout rates for the treatment and control groups. The results indicate that phone canvassing and face-to-face voter mobilization campaigns were highly effective in stimulating voter turnout.