Turnout among young voters was the second highest for a midterm in past 30 years

A supporter of U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., 18th Congressional District, wears a VOTE hair pin at Maloney's election night party.

Julia Nikhinson / Julia Nikhinson

About 27% of voters between the ages of 18-29 cast a ballot in the midterm election this year, according to an early estimate from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, also known as CIRCLE.

Researchers say the 2022 election had the second highest voter turnout among voters under 30 in at least the past three decades. So far, the highest turnout during a midterm for this voting bloc is 2018 when about 31% of young people who are eligible to vote cast a ballot.

During a briefing Thursday, Abby Kiesa — deputy director at CIRCLE — said 2018 remains “a high-water mark” for youth voter turnout during midterms in the U.S. since at least since the 1970s. Historically, youth voter turnout has hovered around 20% during midterm elections.