What makes a good citizen? Voting, paying taxes, following the law top list
Majorities of Americans say voting in elections, paying taxes and following the law are very important to good citizenship, according to a 2018 survey.
Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X outvoted older generations in 2018 midterms
Midterm voter turnout reached a modern high in 2018, and Generation Z, Millennials and Generation X accounted for a narrow majority of those voters
In year of record midterm turnout, women continued to vote at higher rates than men
Over half of women and men who were eligible to vote cast ballots in 2018. Compared with 2014, turnout increased by double digits among both genders.
Historic highs in 2018 voter turnout extended across racial and ethnic groups
More than half of U.S. eligible voters voted in 2018, the highest midterm turnout rate in recent history. Increased turnout was particularly pronounced among Hispanics and Asians.
Key takeaways about Latino voters in the 2018 midterm elections
Latinos made up an estimated 11% of all voters nationwide on Election Day, nearly matching their share of the U.S. eligible voter population.
Weekday elections set the U.S. apart from many other advanced democracies
Many of the millions of Americans voting in Tuesday's midterm elections will have to do so while working around the demands of their jobs – hitting their polling places before work, taking an extra-long lunch break or going afterward and hoping to make it before the polls close. As they stand in line, many of them may wonder why it is that the United States votes on a Tuesday, of all days.
In their own words: Why some people find voting difficult
Voters are more enthusiastic about voting than in any midterm election in over 20 years of Pew Research Center polling. Still, millions of Americans will not exercise their right to vote on Tuesday.
Hispanic voters more engaged in 2018 than in previous midterms
More Hispanic registered voters say they have given “quite a lot” of thought to the upcoming midterm elections compared with four years ago and are more enthusiastic to vote this year than in previous congressional elections. But they lag behind the general public on some measures of voter engagement.
Conservative Republicans are least supportive of making it easy for everyone to vote
Two-thirds of Americans (67%) say everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote, but Republicans – especially conservative Republicans – are less likely to hold this view, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
Many Around the World Are Disengaged From Politics
Aside from voting, relatively few people take part in other forms of political and civic participation. But a 14-country survey finds that some could be motivated to participate on issues like health care, poverty and education.
