Surprisingly, the young adults aged 18-35 are one of the most challenging demographics to attract to the voting booth. They possess the power to sway the election, but candidates need to employ new tactics to reach them. As per the recent research report, millennials are the largest living generation consisting of 75.4 million people in the United States for the year 2015. The number is projected to rise and reach 81.1 million people in 2036. They are also more diverse and politically engaged than any generation before them. Therefore, politicians can no longer afford to ignore this powerful voting bloc.
Irrespective of how much significant portion this vast mass is made up of actual voters is considerably less. Only 46% of millennials voted in the last national election, compared to 69% of seniors. However, getting this key voter bloc engaged is essential as they make up a significant population.
Political consulting firms need to employ innovative strategies that resonate with this tech-savvy and highly mobile group to win over millennial voters. This article will explore three of the most effective ways to attract millennial voters.
Adopt the "Bernie effect"
Bernie Sanders's surprising success in the 2016 democratic primaries was due, in part, to his ability to appeal to millennials. Sanders's strong stances on income inequality and any such social issues resonated with young voters. As a result, he proved a large constituency of millennials who are open to vote for a progressive candidate. If your campaign can tap into the "Bernie effect," you may be able to attract more millennial voters.
Many millennials are passionate about specific social issues, such as workplace equality, minority rights, wall street reforms, healthcare, etc. Therefore, candidates who take stances on these issues that reflect millennials' views will benefit from this voting bloc.
Suppose your campaign field organizer can bring the authenticity that today's young voters demand and articulate a clear vision on issues that matter to this generation, in that case, you may be able to attract more millennial voters by tapping into the "Bernie effect."
Embrace technology
Millennials are more likely to be engaged with a campaign if they can interact with it through their favorite social media platforms. Therefore, candidates should have a presence on all popular social media sites and ensure their content is relevant and exciting to millennials.
It is essential to use technology that they are comfortable with to reach millennials. This means using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and online tools like voter registration websites and online donation platforms. It is also essential to have an app for your campaign, as most millennials use smartphones. Since the presidential election of 2015, Snapchat and Pinterest have become crucial platforms for reaching millennials, so make sure your political campaign firms are using these tools.
Promote the ideal matters that appeal to Millennials
Millennials are more likely to support parties that stand for social justice and equality. They are also more likely to be environmentally conscious, so promoting green policies is an excellent way to reach them. Along with the environmental issues, other social issues like gay rights, marijuana legalization, immigration, gun control, abortion rights, etc, are lending millennials towards candidates like sanders. If your political campaigning strategies address such issues, you will be able to attract more voters by appealing various such ideals before this open-minded generation.
That's a Wrap
To win the upcoming election, candidates must understand how to attract millennial voters by efficiently implementing the above-stated strategies. There are three main ways to do this: policy positions, social media outreach, and grassroots campaigning. All three of these methods effectively reach millennials and get them to cast their ballots on election day.
Political field organizers need to make sure they are targeting millennials in their outreach and awareness of the essential issues to this voting bloc.
In this way, by rightly targeting millennials with their policies, using the right social media tools, and engaging in effective grassroots campaigning, candidates can ensure that they will get the support of this influential voting bloc.
