Just 38 percent of young black voters say they are "almost certain" that they will vote in November, a sharp decline from the 59 percent of all poll respondents who said the same.
The findings are from a poll conducted by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda with public opinion research firm PerryUndem, which was released on Monday.
The pollsters found that 38 percent of Black voters between 18 and 29 said they are “almost certain” to vote.
"Economic issues are most pressing for younger adults, including the cost of living and housing costs. Older respondents (65 and older) are most likely to prioritize racism / racial justice, the state of democracy, and voting rights," the pollsters report.
When looking at the likelihood of voting by gender, 63 percent of black men said they were “almost certain” to vote, while 56 percent of black women were equally enthusiastic.
When asked about if the presidential election were held today, a slight majority (55 percent) said they would vote for the Democrat candidate. Just nine percent said they would vote for the Republican, while one in five are unsure.
"As many as 1 in 5 Black voters are on the fence about who will get their votes, while 55 percent say they will support Joe Biden in the presidential election," the poll found.
Abortion access is also a major issue among black voters, with 87 percent saying people should have the right to make their own decisions on abortion even if they disagree with it. Additionally, 79 percent said they would vote in favor of amendments protecting abortion.
“So many of the issues that impact Black families are linked to economic safety and security. At the same time, there is an all-out assault on our reproductive rights. What’s important for lawmakers, those running for office and voters to understand is that economic freedom and Reproductive Justice are inextricably tied together,” said Regina Davis Moss, President & CEO of In Our Own Voice.
“We need life-saving and life-enhancing policies in place that support our reproductive health decisions. If and when we do choose to have families, we need policies in place that allow us to do that in safe and sustainable environments. As an organization led by Black women and gender-expansive people, we know the power we have at the ballot box. It’s also why we’re using these findings to help bring more voters to the polls via our I Am A Reproductive Justice Voter campaign – an initiative designed to mobilize Black voter turnout in support of our key interests.”
The pollsters surveyed 1,005 Black adults between January 22-27.
