A study explored the contribution of selected literacy, demographic, and sociopolitical variables on registering to vote and on voting, using as a database a subset of the respondents to the Young Adult Literacy Survey, administered in 1985 to a stratified national sample of 21- through 25-year-olds. Three sets of independent variables were explored: demographic characteristics, political participation, and literacy practices and proficiencies. When a bivariate probit regression model with sample selection was applied to these data, only the amount of hard news read and years of education were significant predictors of voting, given registration. For registration, these variables, plus ethnicity/race, television viewing, and the degree to which one keeps up with governmental affairs were all significant predictors. The conclusion was that increased education and increased attention to hard news reading within school and adult education curricula could lead to increased propensities to vote. Appendixes include five data tables. Contains 6 endnotes and 24 references. (Author/YLB)