Young people are notorious for being idealistic, yet lacking follow through; they consistently vote at a rate far lower than the national average. However, in the 2008 election, exit polls indicate that youth will kick the stereotype of civic irresponsibility.
Photo by Teddy Woodward
Joseph Carlyon, 18, registers to vote this fall at an Obama campaign
office at Raymond and University Avenues in St. Paul. The Associated
Press reported 9 million new voters registered this election, nearly half
of which were younger than 30. “Rock the Vote,” a group that uses pop
culture to encourage young people to become politically involved, reported
it ran its largest registration drive with 2.5 million new voters
registering, double their drive in 2004.
According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the nation saw an 11 percentage point spike in voting from those aged 18- to 24-years-old, rising from 36 percent in the 2000 election to 47 percent in the 2004 election. This number is expected to increase further still based on a steady upward trend in primary and caucus voting of this demographic in 2008.
On Nov. 5, CIRCLE announced that once all ballots are counted, they will likely show that the youth turnout in 2008 will be the second highest in the country with 54.5 percent of the youth population 18-29 years old voting. In 1972, 55.4 percent voted.
It’s well known that young people tend to vote Democratic, and in this election especially the youth demographic overwhelmingly supports the liberal candidate. According to recent Gallup Polls, two out of three youth voters suported Barack Obama. The last time youth participation spiked, the Democrat Bill Clinton won the White House in 1992.
Minnesota had the highest youth turnout in the nation in 2004 with 69 percent voting.
David Seitz, a 21 year-old junior at Macalester said the past eight years are the source of motivation for young voters this fall: “Things have gotten so ridiculous that people see that they have a chance to affect their own interests.”
Mariyah Khan, an 18-year old student at the University of Minnesota, said that she planned to vote because she is concerned about the present state of the economy and social security. “I don’t think we’re going to get (to retire) … In our nation, you’re supposed to work, and then they give us something back for it,” she said. “We talk about not being able to enjoy your life — you’ll just have to keep working, which really sucks.”
Joe Pasholk, a 23-year-old member of the local 292 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, echoed Khan’s concerns about the economy and job market. Pasholk didn’t vote in the previous election. “I didn’t think it mattered,” he said. Pasholk said that he is resolved to vote in this election. “I’m in a union, who’s in charge affects my job,” he said.
Matt Stebbins, 25, said the youth vote’s excitement about this election is directly related to Obama being an inspiring candidate that can get young people riled up, a quality he thinks other recent presidential candidates lacked. “It was really hard to be excited about Kerry … I think most people in 2004 were voting to not vote for the other guy,” Stebbins said.
Although the causes may vary, young people are beginning to come around and embrace their civic responsibility. Dan Demuth, 23, a student at McNally Smith College of Music, put it this way: “As long as I can vote, I’m going to vote.” He paused. “If you don’t vote, a bunch of old people are going to decide things.”
Post new comment