Young adult Hoosiers care deeply about public issues but remain largely disconnected from the political process, including voting, according to new research released Wednesday by ReCenter Indiana Inc.
The nonpartisan study found that distrust of government, disappointment with politics and practical barriers on Election Day are major reasons many young adults do not vote, even though many say they want to participate.
According to the Tufts University CIRCLE 2024 youth voting report, just 39% of young Hoosiers voted in the 2024 general election, placing Indiana among the lowest-performing states and well below the national young adult turnout rate of 47%.
ReCenter Indiana’s research focused specifically on non-voters. The organization surveyed 307 Central Indiana residents ages 18 to 34 who were registered to vote but did not cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. The survey was statistically representative and included both online and phone interviews, along with a focus group discussion.
“Young adult non-voters are not apathetic. They really care — but they are distrustful of government, disappointed by politics and impeded by Election Day barriers,” said Jocelyn Vare, executive director of ReCenter Indiana. Vare presented the findings at the All IN For Democracy press conference at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Among the key findings, a majority of respondents said they do not believe their voices influence government decisions or election outcomes, and many feel the government is not listening to people like them. Pessimism about the future was also widespread, with half of respondents describing their outlook as pessimistic or negative.
The study found that the most common reason young adults gave for not voting was the belief that their vote “doesn’t matter.” Other barriers varied by party affiliation, gender and identity, with some respondents citing dissatisfaction with the candidates, while others pointed to personal obligations or missed deadlines.
Nearly half of those surveyed — 45% — said they have never voted. Those respondents were more likely to cite distrust of the electoral process or a lack of information than respondents who had voted in the past.
Despite those challenges, the research indicates that many young adults remain open to civic participation. When asked whether they would vote in the upcoming year, 35% said they would “definitely” vote, and many others reported an above-average likelihood of doing so.
The study also identified several practical obstacles that make it difficult for young adults to turn intent into action, including work schedules, long lines at polling places, limited Election Day hours and lack of awareness about early voting options.
The research was funded by a grant from the Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation and conducted jointly by Bellwether Research, which typically works with Republican candidates and causes, and Hart Research, whose clients are typically Democrats. Fieldwork took place in late October 2025.
A summary of the findings, along with statements from focus group participants, survey details and links to the full report and crosstab data, is available at ReCenter Indiana’s website.