Centering Young Voters in Election Science

By Aliza Lifshitz

This semester, I had the privilege of joining the Center for Election Science as a research assistant on a project focused on how young voters consume news and political information online. In the wake of the 2024 election and the shifting political tendencies of Gen Z, this work has taken on a new urgency.

Public discourse is filled with conversations about gender dynamics in digital spaces, the influence of big tech companies on what people see online, and the ongoing struggle to address misinformation. Our research helps ground these conversations in real-world data. By gathering in-depth, qualitative insights from young voters, we can better understand how these trends shape behavior and support practitioners in working with young voters to promote healthy news consumption habits.

Building Real-World Research Skills

As I enter my final year at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, I feel confident in my ability to conduct rigorous, evidence-based policy analysis. Working with CES gave me a hands-on opportunity to not only apply those skills but also deepen them.

I helped design a survey aimed at capturing young people's information-seeking habits, political engagement, and perceptions of democracy. Every detail mattered. From the phrasing of questions, to the composition of the sample, to the capabilities of the research vendor, I had a first hand look at how rigorous research processes happen. For every item we proposed, we had to explain its purpose and theoretical grounding.

To support the survey design, I also completed human subjects research training, conducted interviews with vendors and journalists, and developed a comprehensive literature review. These tasks gave me a deeper understanding of both the ethical foundations and the logistical complexities of public opinion research.

A Personal and Professional Investment

I plan to use the skills I developed at CES in both my thesis work and my broader efforts to help government agencies expand youth engagement programs. As a young person, this research feels personal. I want to better understand how my peers interact with political content online and how I can become more intentional about my own media habits.

This project has also helped me explore big-picture questions. Can social media platforms designed to maximize profit also serve as spaces for democratic participation? What can policymakers, researchers, and organizers do to ensure that young people feel seen, heard, and equipped to participate?

A Call for Collaboration

For institutions committed to protecting and strengthening democracy, investing in research that centers young voters is critical. I hope this project encourages more scholars and organizations to consider the unique political behaviors and information environments of Gen Z.

I also hope this work demonstrates how valuable it can be to involve graduate students in ongoing election science research. My time with CES has been one of the most rewarding parts of my graduate experience, and I’m excited to keep building on it.

Aliza Lifshitz is a Research Assistant at CES and a part-time MPP student at the McCourt School of Public Policy. She holds a BA from Barnard College in New York. Aliza is also the founder of the Youth Advisory Project, an initiative dedicated to supporting and establishing youth advisory councils within government.