Young Americans report growing interest in voting and community involvement, but fewer than one-third feel included in decisions that affect them, according to a national poll conducted for UNICEF USA.
The third annual UNICEF USA Youth Poll surveyed 3,204 people ages 14 to 22. It found 74% believe their participation in politics would improve the country and 82% believe people their age can make a difference, while only 30% said they feel included in decision-making.
The Harris Poll conducted the online survey using respondents who had agreed to participate in its research. The published summary did not list field dates, and the organizations cautioned that online polling can be affected by coverage, nonresponse, question wording, response options and weighting.
Voting interest grows as barriers ease
Among respondents old enough to vote, intent to participate in state elections increased 15 percentage points from 2024. The poll also reported rising interest in local elections and greater involvement through volunteering and community organizing.
The share who said it is difficult to get involved fell from 50% in 2024 to 42% this year. The percentage saying their opinion does not matter to elected officials also declined, from 73% to 63%, though nearly two-thirds still felt unheard.
Darla Silva, chief program officer for UNICEF USA, said young people are ready to vote, volunteer and lead but want officials to listen to them. Jen Musil, president of research at The Harris Poll, said the three years of polling show young people are more prepared to participate than political systems are to include them.
Local leaders receive more trust
Sixty-two percent of respondents said local leaders are invested in their future, compared with 42% who said the same about federal officials. The survey identified school boards, city councils and county commissions as institutions young people often see as more accessible than the federal government.
When asked what officials could do to make them feel heard, 44% said leaders should understand how young people view issues. Forty-three percent wanted officials to consider the effects of legislation on youth before passing it, while 42% called for honest dialogue and the same share wanted direct participation in decision-making.
Cost of living leads youth concerns
The cost of living, including housing and inflation, was identified by 61% as a top national concern. It also ranked first among issues young people said they were considering ahead of the midterm elections, cited by 31%.
Health care followed closely. Among respondents who prioritized access to health care, 82% said elected officials give the issue too little attention, and 81% said the same about access to mental health care.
The overall survey estimate has a Bayesian credible interval of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Data for Black, Hispanic and Asian respondents were weighted as needed by age, gender, region, education and employment status.
Margins were wider for those subgroups: plus or minus 4.8 points for Black respondents, 4.1 points for Hispanic respondents and 6.1 points for Asian respondents. The organizations said uncertainty would also be greater for other subsets of the sample.
UNICEF USA invited young people responding to the findings to take its Child-Centered Governance Pledge, which calls for mechanisms that give youth a role in public decisions.
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