Final answer:
Young people aged 18-25 historically have some of the lowest voter turnout rates, which can be influenced by factors like political disengagement and infrequent voter registration. However, increased turnout has been observed when there are appealing candidates and effective mobilization efforts, such as the notable spike during the 2008 election.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is often observed that people aged between 18 and 25 do have among the lowest voter turnout rates. This age group tends to be less politically active and are underrepresented in traditional forms of political engagement. Historical data show fluctuations in voter turnout, with significant peaks during particular elections where the candidacy or political circumstances resonated more strongly with younger voters. For instance, in 2008, the youth vote saw a substantial increase partly due to the appeal of presidential candidate Barack Obama and the growing influence of new technology like social media platforms in political mobilization.
Factors contributing to this lower turnout include political disengagement, the feeling that their voice is not significant, frequent relocations, less reliance on government, and the complexity of voter registration for some. However, initiatives to increase voter registration and mobilization have demonstrated success. Notably, the youth turnout has seen increments at times, hinting at a potential for higher engagement when conditions such as candidate appeal, issue relevance, and accessible information converge favorably.