Voting patterns: age or cohort effect?

Question

It's well known that older people vote in greater proportions than younger people. Is this an age effect or a cohort effect?

If you can point me to one or more studies, that would be extra cool.

Answer 1

Older people dont vote more..they have been voting pretty much the same...what has changed is that younger people are voting less and less..and the reason why is because we don't vote when we know there are really only two options....at least thats what i hear..wudda u think.

Answer 2

I can't imagine it is that much difference between the two. I mean, your cohort is the people who are near the same age as yourself. So you all get older together, start thinking about retirement, medical issues of aging, etc., at roughly the same time. It's not so much that we talk things over and change as a result, because I am more likely to talk things over with people younger than myself (I'm 59). It is more that the older we get, the more we see the time when it is possible we will be dependent and relatively helpless. We want the government to be able to deal appropriately with those conditions.

I know that most people say that makes for a Democrat; wanting the entitlement programs, etc. And some people say that makes for a Republican, wanting the tax cuts and wealth protection, etc. I think the Libertarian Party is the place for older people, because we need to work out solutions that do not rely on government programs that are wasteful and can be canceled or changed without warning. We need retirement benefits and medical care and suchlike to be in hands we can trust; who can trust a bureaucrat?

Answer 3

One of the things we noticed in Canada with respect to young people voting is that young people never felt any of the campaign issues related to them. This is reflected in the average age of politicians and candidates vying for power. What does a 55-year old male know about issues that most concern a 20-year old female who is just getting into university?

However, this does not let younger people off the hook. Young people need to get politically involved and force their issues on the table. I noted in recent years, more all candidates' meetings have been held on university campuses where young people can attend and express their views. Young people also have to get involved in political parties where policy directives are made and work on the campaigns of politicians that seem to hold some hope for younger people, or even run themselves.