5th
Youth and the Election.
Say what you will, one could surmise that all those years of watching American Idol taught young people one thing. Their vote does matter.
Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan political advocacy group that targets younger voters, reported that over 2.5 million new registrants signed on for this election, more than doubling the amount in 2004. And turn-out by voters younger than 30 in the 2008 primaries and caucuses nearly doubled that of eight years ago
“The increase in youth turnout has not been a response to Obama, it’s been a response to George Bush … If you’re our age, you’re thinking about the kind of world you’re inheriting, and it’s pretty scary right now.” - Shana Hurley, Tufts junior, President of Tufts Democrats, Tufts Daily
As you read this, it is important to remember that the average American voter is 55-years old. That means that all of our political polling, media coverage and grass-roots organizing has largely been structured around white middle-class individuals. Until this election, 18-year olds on FaceBook were not even a seed in people’s minds. Pollsters suddenly needed to target younger generations who were used to communicating through cell phones and text messages. And then there was the additional question on everyone’s minds: Would they even get out and vote?
And vote they did.
The news reports rolling in this morning are indicating that the youngest members of this country – voters under 30, turned out in record numbers – and they largely voted Democratic. Some reports had the numbers at 66% [Obama] vs. 32% [McCain] At almost 2 to 1 it shows a shifting liberal population that is looking to the President to create a better world than the one they are living in now.
“America is facing unprecedented challenges. More unanticipated crises will inevitably present themselves during your presidency. May the next four years be better than the last. I put my faith in you.” - Lauren Sal, Barnard College sophomore + Executive Director of the College Republicans, Colombia Spectator
In the end, it will be interesting to see the effects of this election. Data historically suggests that new voters who participate in elections continue to make civic engagement a life-long habit. One would surmise that given the turn out, the Democrat Party would be the benefactors of this surge of loyalists in the long run.
Maybe we all will. Understanding that their participation and activeness will matter, the young voters of today will soon be the volunteers, the changemakers and the business and government leaders of tomorrow.
