71 Percent of Florida Young Adults Plan to Vote in Presidential Election, Only 26 Percent Say Economic Policies Coming Out of Washington Are Helping Them

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Oct 29, 2012, 04:30 ET

Facebook, text messages top GOTV tools for young people as Sunshine State Millennials 'Pledge to GO Vote'

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity, with over 4 million fans on Facebook and direct grassroots engagement with over a quarter million young Americans, today released additional results from their comprehensive Florida-specific survey of young adults ages 18-29. The poll found that 71 percent of young Floridians plan to vote in the presidential election, only 34 percent are satisfied with elected officials in Washington, and that 83 percent believe key life decisions have been delayed by the poor national economy. The poll also found that of the "Get Out the Vote" (GOTV) reminder tools that will have an impact on young voter turnout in Florida, Facebook ranked first at 63 percent and text messages ranked second at 47 percent. Only 14 percent of Florida's Millennials thought a phone call would be effective – a clear indication that smartphones and other mobile devices have reached a point of heavy market penetration within the demographic. Generation Opportunity has over 160,000 followers across the state of Florida.

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In addition to the poll results, Generation Opportunity has launched the Pledge to GO Vote Campaign aimed at further increasing the already growing enthusiasm and interest among young adults to participate in the presidential election. Generation Opportunity is encouraging its supporters, their friends, and all those within their networks to Pledge to GO Vote. Read more about the initiative and sign the pledge here at GenerationOpportunity.org/vote.

Watch the video at bit.ly/PledgeToGOVote.

FLORIDA'S YOUNG ADULTS – VOTER ENGAGEMENT

71% of Florida Millennials plan to vote in the election for President this year.
Only 34% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.
Which will be the more important to you in casting your vote for President in 2012?
- 49% - A candidate's position on issues and a record in public office;
- 9% - A candidate's personal characteristics, like charisma and likeability;
- 30% - They are of equal importance (accepted only this response);
- 4% - Neither is important / something else;
- 8% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
53% agreed they will learn more about the policy positions of the presidential candidates in 2012 than they did in 2008.

FLORIDA'S YOUNG ADULTS – EFFECTIVE GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) TOOLS

Which of the following, if any, would make young people more likely to vote? (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 63% - Facebook reminder message;
- 47% - Text message reminder;
- 28% - Email reminder;
- 26% - Public service announcement;
- 14% - Phone call;
- 12% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
- 8% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
From which of the following sources do you get your news? (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 49% - Friends/family;
- 46% - Facebook;
- 43% - Online newspapers;
- 42% - Cable news programs;
- 40% - Radio;
- 38% - Network news programs;
- 27% - Specific websites focusing on topics that interest you;
- 25% - Print newspapers;
- 20% - Twitter;
- 19% - Online magazines;
- 19% - Comedy news programs (The Daily Show, The Colbert Report);
- 16% - Blogs;
- 16% - Print magazines;
- 2% - Other;
- 6% - None of the above (accepted only this response).

FLORIDA'S YOUNG ADULTS – ON THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY

Only 31% of Florida Millennials agree with the statement "generally speaking, things in the United States are heading in the right direction."
55% are not confident that America will still be a global leader in five years if the USA continues along the same path as the last few years.

FLORIDA'S YOUNG ADULTS – ON ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES – STUDENT LOANS, ENERGY, HEALTHCARE

64% of Florida Millennials believe the availability of more quality, full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.
64% say the availability of more quality, full-time jobs with health insurance plans is more important than the ability to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26.
60% would increase production of domestic American energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
74% would decrease federal spending if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
70% prefer reducing federal spending over raising taxes on individuals to balance the budget.

FLORIDA'S YOUNG ADULTS – THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY ON FUTURE DREAMS AND CAREERS

74% of Florida Millennials believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.
Only 26% say that the economic policies coming out of Washington are helping them.
83% had planned to but now might delay or not make at all a major life change or move forward on a major purchase due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 42% - Buy their own place;
- 31% - Start a family;
- 30% - Save for retirement;
- 29% - Go back to school/getting more education or training;
- 28% - Pay off student loans or other debt;
- 27% - Change jobs/cities;
- 20% - Get married;
- 11% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
- 6% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

STATEMENT BY PAUL T. CONWAY, PRESIDENT OF GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

"Florida's young adults know that economic growth and increased opportunity are the only true changes that can reverse high unemployment and the lack of full-time jobs. They know the results of the 2012 presidential election will have profound implications on their ability to realize their career goals and to achieve their dreams. They are tired of a status quote defined by periods of unemployment, underemployment, part-time work, and full-time jobs outside the focus of their skills and educational level," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor under Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "Over the course of the next week they will use their social media networks to organize and remind their friends to vote – and they will vote as if their futures depend upon their decision."

METHODOLOGY

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, conducted a statewide online survey of 524 Florida adults ages 18-29 between July 27 – August 13, 2012. Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email, which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old statewide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted. The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 4.4 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained.

GRASSROOTS FIELD ACTIVITIES IN FLORIDA

Generation Opportunity's social media operations and grassroots organizers and volunteers have already engaged over one hundred and sixty thousand young people online and at events across the Sunshine State over the past year. They have trained student leaders on college campuses; co-sponsored trade shows, industry, and manufacturing summits; participated in street fairs and local festivals; and attended happy hours for young professionals.

Selected events where Generation Opportunity field teams and volunteers have listened to the concerns of young adults and recruited new supporters have included the annual LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) conference in Orlando, the Blue Angel Air Show in Pensacola Beach, Tampa's Freedom Fest, Fourth of July Celebrations in Naples and West Palm Beach, Orlando's Latin Food & Wine Festival, Tampa Bay Buccaneers football games, Market Day at the University of Central Florida, Chamber of Commerce events in Boca Raton, Broward County, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Orlando, Naples, Palm Beach, Pensacola, St. Petersburg, Santa Rosa, and Tallahassee, as well as the annual American Student Government Association Conference in Lake Buena Vista. The overwhelming concern of young adults at each of these events has been the poor national economy, as well as the lack of opportunity and high unemployment.

In recent months, Generation Opportunity field teams also have met with young adults at colleges and schools throughout the state, signing up more volunteers and further expanding its growing statewide network of grassroots activists. Generation Opportunity organizers have visited and recruited new volunteer team members at Florida State University, Southeastern University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, the University of West Florida, and many others. The organization has dozens more events planned and is providing expertise and assistance for other events their volunteers are conducting within their own communities and extensive social media networks.

Generation Opportunity's social media and grassroots field teams also recently trained student leaders at the National Student Government Summit in Orlando, hosted by the American Student Government Association (ASGA), on how high youth unemployment is devastating the dreams and careers of America's Millennials and how they can better organize their respective campuses. Campus leaders representing Florida colleges and universities were present, including key leaders from Brevard Community College, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Gainesville State College, Saint Leo University, Seminole State College, and Saint Petersburg College.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on important economic issues facing the nation. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has operated on a combined strategy of advanced social media tactics and field tactics to reach young Americans across the country.

Generation Opportunity is actively organizing young adults across America through grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts in states like Ohio, Virginia, Maine, North Carolina and Florida, engaging over a quarter million young adults. The organization's social media platforms have amassed a total fan base of more than 4 million. Facebook pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.