2024 Young Voters Report: Young Voters Are Enthusiastic to Vote, Strongly Prefer Harris to Trump

This year, Gen Z and millennials make up nearly half of the eligible voting population, including approximately 41 million members of Gen Z (ages 18-27). Data for Progress’ previous polling has found that swing voters — those still not certain in their vote choice this November — are disproportionately young. 

From September 27 to October 3, Data for Progress surveyed 773 likely voters ages 18-29 using SMS and web panel respondents to assess young voters’ political views a little over a month before the 2024 election. The survey finds that young voters are enthusiastic about the 2024 election and overwhelmingly think voting is an effective means to create change. Vice President Kamala Harris (58%) leads former President Donald Trump (39%) in a head-to-head race among young voters, who view her as more intelligent, more composed, and stronger than Trump. Young voters also say Harris cares more about people like them by a +27-point margin, while viewing Trump as more extreme and weird. 

However, a significant gender divide exists among young voters, with young men showing more conservative tendencies than young women. While young women choose Harris over Trump in a two-way race by a +37-point margin, young men are evenly divided, with 48% choosing Harris and 48% choosing Trump. 

Furthermore, young voters strongly support progressive policies, especially economic policies that benefit workers and cap the price of prescription drugs, as well as guaranteeing a right to abortion nationwide and phasing out fossil fuels to confront climate change. Around 2 in 3 young voters support implementing Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, and more than 3 in 5 say that increasing efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across industries would be good for society.