For the most part, those who go online for election news are simply seeking information, and they participate in other online activities at much lower rates. Younger users were more interested than older ones in information about candidate positions and when and where to vote, while older users were somewhat more interested than their younger counterparts in information about candidates' voting records. Younger election news consumers were more likely to participate in chat groups than their older counterparts, but older consumers were more likely to register their opinions in electronic polls. In general, Internet veterans and newcomers participated in online political activities at comparable levels. Republicans hold a clear advantage in online activism over Democrats, measured in terms of interactive participation.
Whites tend to go online at higher rates than minorities.
But there are few differences in what whites and minorities do once they log on, at least as far as election news is concerned. However, two differences do arise with respect to race and ethnicity. Similarly, minority news consumers were more likely than whites to participate in online discussions about the elections. Impact of Online News With more and more Americans turning to the Internet for election news, there is strong evidence that what they learn is making a difference in how they vote. Younger voters, in particular, found online information to be influential.