Summary
This research paper focuses on the critical issue of low youth voter turnout in California, specifically examining disparities across counties. The abstract stresses the central role of voting in democracy and highlights historical trends of reduced participation among young citizens. The study is driven by a concern for social justice, emphasizing the underrepresentation of youth in the electorate and the anticipated increase in young voters in California. It aims to identify barriers to youth voting, including civic education and institutional hurdles, while exploring the concept of "turnout deserts" – areas with limited political participation. Assumptions include viewing low voter turnout as a problem and acknowledging demographic differences in voting behaviors. The methodology involves observational and correlational approaches, utilizing statistical analyses to investigate county-level voter turnout and understand factors contributing to youth voting disparities, with the ultimate goal of informing policy changes and civic outreach efforts for enhanced voting equity in California.