WIll the young people show up to vote?

Submitted by bizgrrl on Thu, 2008/10/30 - 9:17am

In Florida, young people are not yet getting out the vote.

A[n Orlando] Sentinel analysis of the record 1.4 million ballots cast during the first nine days of early voting compared the age, race and party affiliation of those who voted early against a list of Florida's 11.2 million registered voters. It showed:

Young people are turning out in disproportionately low numbers. Though major registration efforts this year boosted their totals to nearly 25 percent of the total electorate, voters younger than 35 represent only 15 percent of early voters, making them the worst-performing demographic group in the analysis.

More than half of early voters are, again, the old farts (55 and older).
Is this the case around the country? Will the young people step up?

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It will be disappointing,

Submitted by Brian A. on Thu, 2008/10/30 - 12:00pm.

It will be disappointing, but not shocking, if it plays out that way.

I'm trying to compare the 2004 voting totals versus the 2008 early voting figures for UT. Am I reading it correctly? It appears 2008 is already far ahead of the 2004 total. Or is that not an apples to apples comparison?

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Definitely a huge difference

Submitted by bizgrrl on Thu, 2008/10/30 - 12:14pm.

Definitely a huge difference for early voting, already surpassed total voting at that precinct. Don't guess it means the voters are young. Could be faculty, staff, students, and visitors. How would you know?

I've not seen that early

Submitted by Brian A. on Thu, 2008/10/30 - 12:55pm.

I've not seen that early voting center, but my guess is that the vast majority of voters there are people already on campus, as that area is not particularly accessible to visitors (parking).

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Interesting tactics

Submitted by Jun Xu (not verified) on Thu, 2008/10/30 - 9:46pm.

I guess when your campaign strategy relies on how many empty-headed 20 year olds vote you damn well better hope they lay off the booze on Monday and show up at the polls. Party on Wayne.

My 20 yr old

Submitted by SHarris on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 8:24am.

My 20 yr old son is a responsible, hard working, self supporting college student who doesn't "party on" and who took advantage of early voting to cast his very first Presidential vote for Obama. Obama seems to have the ability to inspire young people to want to do for their country. Isn't that, truly, one of the qualities of great leadership?