The Chase for the Youth Vote in 2008

It is secret that the youth vote in America is one of the most untapped voter commodities in any election. However the youth vote is more like a question mark because it is no telling how many youth will come out to vote in any election and that's why many political candidates tend to put majority of their effort toward senior citizens, absentee voters, the working class and the middle class. The youth vote is always talked about and their is always speculation that more youth will will vote this year than in previous years. It is evident that every Presidential election, more and more youth come out to vote but not enough to tip the scales of a Presidential election in any one candidates way than the others.

However the key to getting youth to turn out in any election is to make the issues about the youth. Yes politicians or candidates need to address youth issues if they want to see the youth turn out to vote. That's why other politically savvy youth or passionate youth who love politics or a particularly candidate need to make others aware of the issues that plague them and why youth should go out and vote for a particular candidate or vote for or against a particular issue. It is up to other youth and even the candidates themselves to expose youth to just how beneficial it is for them to not only get out and vote but to be involved in the political process way after voting by holding elected officials accountable on the issues that they said they would champion while out on the campaign trials. Many times, candidates promise youth so many things because they know they can get over on the youth since many of them will not stay involved in the political process yet alone contact their elected officials once they are elected to office to make sure they are holding up their end of the campaign bargains such as lower tuition, more jobs, better schools, clean parks, safety, etc.

While America's democracy is based on the idea that all people should have a voice in their government. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat who studied American society in the 1830s, stated "civic zeal seems to be inseparable from the exercise of political rights" in the new country. Americans were enthusiastic and engaged in their communities; thus, their government was responsive to their needs and respected their rights. In recent times, however, this kind of engagement has declined. Most people think of politicians as disconnected from their own interests or concerns, unresponsive to their needs. In some capacity, this idea is true --- our representative democracy depends on a civically engaged citizenry; otherwise, government becomes unduly influenced by interests that do not represent the will of the people.

Teenagers tend to hold this misconception. Politicians address those issues that will get them the most votes or donations. Why bother trying to engage a notoriously unreliable voting bloc like those under 30 when pandering to lobbies such as the AARP and the NRA can effectively win elections? This is when teenagers become apathetic; it's hard to get out the youth vote when the main issues of an election are so distant from our immediate concerns. That's why it is important to get other youth to get their friends engaged in the political process by having daily doses of political conversation or issue based conversations aimed at various social issues that plague youth. This is not to say that many politicians and other political organizations haven't tried to get out the vote when it comes to youth. It seems that none of the messages or methods that have been taken has produced any major spike in the electoral polls of the youth vote.

For example, we've all heard the messages from MTV, P. Diddy, and countless others about why we should "Rock the Vote," but these slogans don't address the common misconception that even if we do vote, nothing will really change. And it's obvious that these messages have fallen on deaf ears. The number of voters under 30 in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections remained stagnant at just 17 percent. Thus, the cycle of effective disenfranchisement begins. Teens become apathetic because politicians are unresponsive, politicians become indifferent to teens because they are apathetic and don't vote. The way to break this cycle is to make teens feel like they have a voice that politicians will listen to. That's how youth movements in the past have started. Students for a Democratic Society became a major force in American politics and society when, in 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson decided to not run for re-election after anti-war advocates showed enormous support for Eugene McCarthy early in the primary season.

A similar situation is occurring right now, but in a way that is more compatible with today's technology. Politicians have been reaching out to youth by holding events on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. CNN even held the YouTube debates, allowing users to submit questions directly to candidates. Making politicians answerable to young people forces our interests to be considered. That's why as youth we need to help guide the direction for other youth to get involved in the political process by escorting them to the polls, to political rallies, political meetings, and even voter registration drives as well as political & party headquarters so that they can see what happens when they are involved in politics. Now if that doesn't work here are 10 reasons you can tell your friends why they should vote:

1. So you can complain. If you are eligible to vote, but choose not to, we don't have to listen to your whining!
2. It's your right. Young people, women and underrepresented groups all fought hard for the right to vote. And even today there are countries where people are still dying for the right to vote.
3. Representation. Does it seem as if politicians are a bunch of old white males? Well, in Congress only 13 percent of members are of color, and only 14 percent are women. Want to change it? Vote.
4. Fashion. You get to wear an "I Voted" sticker -- definitely
fashionable.
5. More federal money...for youth programs, the environment, HIV/AIDS or breast cancer research…whatever your cause! Where do the candidates stand on your issue? Find out and make sure your concerns are their concerns.
6. To cancel out someone else's vote. Whether it's your Dad, your Mom, your teacher, or your soccer coach -- you probably know someone who is going to vote the opposite of you.
7. To bust the stereotype! "Young people are lazy, they don't care, they won't vote." That's what they say. Let's prove them wrong.
8. If you don't vote, someone else will. Our government was designed for citizen participation, so if you don't vote - other people are going to make the decisions for you.
9. Every vote counts. The 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections proved how close things can get, so really every vote counts.
10. NOISE! Want to make some? Then vote!

If those are not reasons enough on why we as youth need to vote and participate in the political process than I don't know what it is. However regardless of of all the political catchy slogans that might come out that are aimed toward youth, the real work at getting the youth out to work starts with mobilizing the youth wherever they are. For example, there are many groups on college campuses who register students to vote but not many groups on college campuses do "Get Out The Vote" work. No matter how many students you register to vote, you have to keep students and youth informed in terms of when are election dates, what's on the ballot in terms of who is running for office and what ballot proposals are on the ballot and most importantly where they can vote at. Hundreds of thousands of students registered to vote while I was in college and I watched countless organizations do voter registration but not many of those same organizations got involved in terms of getting out the vote.

Getting out the vote efforts is key to any election and that all starts with preparing the students and youth with information at least two or three weeks in advance that talk about who is running, when is the election date and where they can vote at as well as how they can vote absentee if they are registered in a different state or if transportation will be provided. Many times, a lot of my generation don't want to do things along and I have found that "Mob to the Poll" efforts are great if properly planned out right. If more college campus organizations would simply mobilize efforts together that are coordinated through the Student Government Associations that are aimed at having specific organizations all go to the polls at a certain time and have students follow them Lastly it doesn't hurt to have cookouts at election poll sites aimed at getting youth to go vote and in return they get a free hot dog or hamburger and something to drink.

It is not easy chasing the youth vote but it is clear more has to be done than just registering youth to vote. I am willing to form a panel discussion on the youth vote and how to tap into it but one thing is for sure that if the youth vote is properly exposed and tapped into than it could swing the political spectrum into one candidates or one parties favor. That is something that can't be argued by anyone involved in the youth vote debate. Now what can be argued is that if anyone needs more of a reason to not only register to vote but vote besides the 10 listed above than here are 10 more reasons why not only youth should register to vote and vote but why any American should register to vote and vote.

1. If you don't register you can't vote! Registering to vote gets your name and current address in the poll book for your local polling place. You can't vote if your name's not on the list.
2. If you don't vote, you don't have a voice! Show your elected representatives how you feel by voting for people who take action. Be a part of the solution. Take the first steps -- register and vote.
3. It's your tax money! Elected representatives decide how much tax you pay and how much each government agency and public department receives to protect and serve our country and its people...that's you!
4. It's your job! Elected officials affect hiring practices, workplace safety and minimum pay rates. They issue permits and licenses to businesses and provide tax incentives to companies that bring new jobs to our communities.
5. It's your health care! State and federal lawmakers affect our access to health care and the costs of those services.
6. They're your highways! Elected representatives at all levels vote for budgets that determine whether stop lights are installed and chuck holes are filled on every street and interstate highway across the country.
7. It's your Social Security! Your United States Senators and Representatives make decisions that affect your retirement and long-term care.
8. It's the air you breathe and the water you drink! Elected officials set the standards for air and water quality and appoint the regulators to enforce these standards.
9. It's your neighborhood! Locally elected officials make decisions that affect the speed limit on your street, your 911 service and the crime rate in your community.

10. Take Responsibility -- Register and Vote!

References:
McCain wants to do better with the youth vote http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/08/12/mccain-wants-to-do-better-with-the-youth-vote/

Wisconsin student chases youth vote for Obama http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8843262

Young people finding Obama way cooler than McCain http://www.dailytribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/04.txt


Religious Youth Vote Could Tip Scales in Battleground States http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/12/religious-youth-vote-could-tip-scales-in-battleground-states/

Young voters want a voice in issues affecting their lives http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_10174472


Will young people go to the polls this year? Some think presidential race is ticket to get them involved http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/08/will_flintarea_young_people_go.html

AT&T to Rock Youth Vote from Handsets http://www.marketingvox.com/att-to-rock-youth-vote-from-handsets-040392/

Vote now, or forever hold your peace http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/08/13/Opinion/Vote-Now.Or.Forever.Hold.Your.Peace-3398529.shtml

Young Voters Change the Channel on Obama http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDk5Y2QxMmI4NmNiYmI0MjkxZjY2YTQ3N2MzYWQ4NmU=

Getting Out the Vote, Keeping Up With Youth http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/television/14lear.html?ref=us