Ranked Choice Voting and Youth Voter Turnout: The Roles of Campaign Civility and Candidate Contact

Ranked choice voting (RCV) has become increasing popular in the United States as more cities and states begin allowing voters to rank candidates order of preference. This change election system been linked increased campaign civility mobilization, but with little evidence suggesting these benefits lead voter turnout general population. study argues that RCV elections may not increase overall will youth voting. Considering young Americans, who have increasingly pessimistic towards politics are also heavily reliant on mobilization for participation, this work offset negative feelings lack political engagement plague Americans. Using a matched individual level seven fourteen non-RCV local from 2013 2014, we find there is no statistical difference rates between plurality public. Yet, line our hypotheses, younger likely vote cities. Further, contact accounts larger portion compared perceptions civility. Findings suggest acts positive mobilizing force through contact.