Will This Be the Year For Young Voters? Part 1

[CROSS-POSTED FROM MICHIGAN YOUTH POLITICAL ALLIANCE]

Obama's message of hope and change has reached out to millions of young voters, and I do not understand how some people can not understand why. Republicans think it might have to do with the age of the candidate, so they bring in Palin. Now, she may be "young," but she certainly does not bring nearly the same understanding to issues that concern youth voters the most as Obama does.

With a young population experiencing piled-up college debt and the pressure of finding new jobs, they refuse to believe that a continuation of the current administration could be the solution, especially since John McCain barely shares the compassion Obama does for education and job growth. Our youth have also become disillusioned by the failed policies of the Iraq War and have felt the stress of escalating costs of health care within their families. Who deals with these issues with an eye out for how we feel? I don't see McCain caring much about what we think. The latest Gallup polls from September 7 reveal our thoughts exactly--60% favor Obama while only 32% favor McCain.

But putting all political affiliation aside, will youth participation shock us this election season?

Let's take a look at their involvement so far. In the Democratic primary elections, 6.5 million Democratic young voters voted--up over 100% since 2004. Students represented 25% of the primary vote, competing with older voters in their numbers. College Democrats are mobilizing students all across the country to register to vote, to phonebank, to canvas, to educate other students about the issues.

The participation on this side of the political spectrum has been remarkable; however, there are quite a few roadblocks. Voter ID laws, the lack of ballot boxes on campuses and residency requirement confusion prevent a lot of students from registering. To eliminate this dilemma and galvanize the youth, Obama's campaign has started 700 chapters of Students for Obama, to ensure college campuses have access to voter registration and information.

I can witness his campaign's effect in my town, where I always see students excitedly volunteering for his campaign, registering people to vote, demonstrating their support for his candidacy, promoting awareness of youth participation in politics. I know that he also recruits many youthful campaign organizers, positioning them at the forefront of his campaign. Some are even in the higher ranks of his staff.

A Harvard Panel even supported the idea that the youth played a pivotal role in winning the primary elections for Obama, noting its potential to spark some serious changes in voter demographics for the general election. Young people were active after the primaries too, making up 16% of the Democratic National Convention. Despite the absence of youth speakers, this percentage represents a huge increase--maybe a 5-7% difference, which amounts to several hundred youth.

Youth also seem to side with Obama instead of McCain on their primary concern: the economy. They fall to his side on several other issues as well, including taxes, morality, renewable energy and pay equity for women.

What can Republicans say to that?

PART 2 COMING UP NEXT

[CROSS-POSTED FROM MICHIGAN YOUTH POLITICAL ALLIANCE]