Youth Vote

The youth of the United States has always been a vital catalyst that helps shape the face of this nation. That’s why it is no surprise that when voting time rolls around, this demographic has the power to shift the results of any election. We all saw the “Obama Mania” that swept the American youth in the 2008 presidential election, but with an enormous GOP victory in the 2010-midterm elections questions whether a historically democratic youth hit the voting polls.

Numbers don’t lie. In the 2008 presidential election 51.1% of peopled ages 18-29, whereas the turnout for the midterms was a mere 20% of that demographic.

“I didn’t feel that this election was that important.” Said Sarah Bernstein, sophomore at NYU, “There was just no motivation to vote.”

Political analysts such as William Cox say that the youth blames Obama for false promises. With the economy improving at a glacial pace and an excess of other political problems that the nation faces, youth voters have developed an undeniable sense of apathy.

“One third of the young people came to blame Obama himself for failing to deliver on his promise. Said Cox, “The economy sucked, jobs evaporated, college tuition increased, coal slurry continued to spill into mountain streams and oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico.”

Steven Peterson, professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Penn State says that historically, young voters are not as interested in midterm elections. As the generation of the new millennium, this demographic is highly drawn to heavy advertising and excessiveness, something that was not present in the 2010 campaign.

"I'm not surprised at the lower youth turn out because people are more excited about the presidential elections.” Said Peterson, “They follow it more, and there's a greater political interest, so there's a greater overall turnout to vote."

Throughout history, youth voters have been far more interested in presidential elections. Controversial issues that effect the American public are far more apparent to youth because it is easier- they can put a face to its issue and position.

The youth demographic became initially more important when they became mobilized in protest politics—which is when political issues take precedence over an actual candidate.” Deva Woodley, a Professor at The New School said. “The 1960’s examples of “protest politics” took the form of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.

The youth of America was extremely connected to Obama and his campaign. He symbolized youth, change, and progressiveness. While McCain seemed to represent an age-old appearance and politics, something youth voters were quick to reject. And endorsements from celebrities such as Seth Rogen, Jamie Foxx, Melanie Griffith, George Clooney, as well as an anti-Palin statement from Matt Damon definitely gave Obama’s campaign some Hollywood glitz and glam.

Also, efforts from organizations such as Rock the Vote, and voting campaigns by MTV incorporated politics into mainstream youth culture. However, in the 2010 midterms, MTV made a mock election, nominating candidates such as Lady GaGa for president. To make such a parody of politics without a doubt shows that the youth has simply lost interest.

“It’s just hard to reach out to a while country when every state has it's own race going on.” Said an intern for MTV News. “We decided this would be a better way at universalizing the election.”

Although popular social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter made a minimal effort to motivate young voters with applications that asked in users voted, many non-voters participated.

However, Heather Smith, president of Rock the vote, claims that the decreased youth turnout is not due to a lack of political eagerness among young voters, yet, was a lack of effort from the candidates. In fact, according to the data from Rock the Vote, the midterm election turnout among voters aged 18-29 actually increased 3 percent 2006.

"What we saw was not an enthusiasm gap" among young voters, said Smith, "but a leadership gap from these candidates."

Candidate for New York’s 1^st Congressional District, Tim Bishop explained the importance of the youth vote in his campaign strategy.

I think that college is very, very important. I think that in helping the youth to vote is very, very important; keeping them involved in the political process is very important, so it's great to be here and like I said, when I first started, I love being back on a college campus."

This recent election has shown how fragile the youth voters are, and that without proper motivation, they simply will not vote. According to William Cox, 36% of young people said it wouldn’t make a difference who they voted for.

Looks like we have some work to do.