Find out more about the impact of the youth vote by looking at the numbers presented in a Forbes article detailing 2008 voting data and the growth experienced in youth voting since 1972. With the youth share of the total vote on the rise over the past four presidential elections (1996, 14.9%; 2008, 17.1%), it will be interesting to see if youth enthusiasm continues to climb in the 2012 election or if participation drops.

CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) is following the 2012 presidential election by publishing a series of reports focused on youth voting and political participation. Stay updated throughout the year to find out information on youth voting trends, recent Presidential and midterm primaries, caucuses and elections, voting laws, what works in getting out the vote, and local political parties and youth.