ST. PAUL, Minn., February 21, 2019 – Data released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found that Minnesota's youth voter turnout was 43.7% in the 2018 election. That was 20.7 points higher than the 2014 election and the youth turnout exceeded the increase in turnout among voters overall (13.7%).
“A youth wave swept across Minnesota,” said LeadMN President Frankie Becerra. “The 2018 election is proof that young people want to have their voice heard and will continue to have their voices heard.” You can see the numbers here: https://civicyouth.org/state-by-state-youth-turnout-estimates-confirm-trend-of-increased-participation-impact-on-2018-midterms/
This data suggests that Minnesota will lead the nation in youth voter turnout after all the state level data is analyzed. Minnesota (+20.7 pts) was only behind Montana (+24.5 pts) in seeing a higher increase in youth voter turnout from the 2014 election.
In 2018, LeadMN ran the Growing Voters project which seeks to make voting habit forming in young people through a long-term approach of civic education, creating civic agency and tearing down institutional barriers that prevent students from voting. This work is critical in teaching students how to be civically engaged so that they can understand how our government works.
This project also released a report in October analyzing student voting participation in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 election. Read the report.