Rockin' the 2008 Vote:
Why America's Youth Vote Will Decide This Year's Presidential Election

By Will Belzak

Posted Oct. 21, 2008

Although it has taken over 35 years to feel the full impact of the passage of the 26th Amendment -- allowing the youth of the United States, those 18 years of age and older, the right to vote in presidential elections -- the presidential election of 2008 may be the historical shedwater that proves that the youth of America -- not baby boomers, not hockey moms, not tough-love dads, not retired folk -- but the youth of America will be the overriding factor its outcome.

All signs, all research, all observations -- both emperical and subjective -- point to the likely possibility that those 18 to 24 years old will truly rock the vote and pick the next president of the United States in 2008. And if this does occur, as many predict, America's youth may be the chief, if not continuing over-riding factor, in many future presidential elections to come.

Leaders of all parties, be they Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, Reform, or Maverick, had better take some fresh, detailed notes so they can develop new strategies to attract and keep young voters in their respective camps.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY

Here's the history lesson.

On July 1, 1971, members of U.S. House of Representatives ratified the 26th Amendment. This amendment standardized the voting age nationwide to allow 18 years the right to vote for the first time in the 1972 presidential election. Its passage was in direct response to unprecedented student activism during the Vietnam War years and the stance of many Americans who pushed the rallying cry of the 1960s: “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.”

Many thought then that there would be an immediate and great outpouring of the youth vote in 1972, participation of voters, aged 18-24. Not only did that not occur -- the youth vote was moderate at best by any standard -- more disheartening has been that the percentage of young voters has steadily declined each presidential election thereafter. Consequently, America's youth population has not had a great -- many would say, not even adequate -- voice in American politics since the passage of the 26th Amendment. But recent and current signs indicate that the times may be a-changin'.

So come gather 'round people wherever you are and consider that the presidential election of 2004 was the first election that stemmed the tide of inactiveness among young constituents. And current indications may prove someday that the power of the youth vote to influence the presidential election of 2008 -- and beyond -- is history in the making.

Nontheless, critics of the idea that youth will be a crucial factor in the outcome of this year's election insist no one group of voters can influence an election in any way. At the very least, they contend that the jury is still out on the importance of the youth vote.

But there are those who disagree with that analysis; they say, that was then, this is now. They point to recent evidence that indicates a rising tide of youth voters. From that informatino they extrapolate that it suggests a potential for dramatic increase of youth participation in the upcoming 2008 Presidential election.

The U.S. Election Encyclopedia states, “More than 25 million Americans became eligible to vote for the first time in the 1972 presidential election. It was the biggest influx of potential voters since women won the right to vote in 1920 (Havel 34)."

BACK IN THE DAY

Despite the millions of new potential voters in ‘72, the turnout of the youth population in proceeding election years has been dismal compared to other age groups. In the 1992 presidential election, the increase of youth participation was encouraging to critics, but with the decreased turnout of young voters in the 1996 and 2000 election, the ’92 turnout turned out to be a spike in participation among young voters.

The 2004 Presidential election showed an 11% increase in youth turnout, a higher increase of turnout than any other age group. In the 2004 election, college students were mobilized, registered and ready to vote.

A poll conducted by CIRCLE indicated that 77% of college students said they voted in the 2004 race. In contrast to the 77% of college students who voted, all other age groups in America hovered above 50% turnout. The main obstacle young adults face in participating in government is being interested.

In the case of the 2004 Presidential race, two-thirds of college students said they discussed politics and current events either once a week or almost daily (Lopez). When an individual is discussing politics in their free time, then there must be a good indication that they are likely to vote as well.

A Weekly Reader magazine article held that “young voters have a lot at stake this year. Many of the campaign issues directly affect their lives, such as the war in Iraq, the weak economy and skyrocketing college costs (Youth Vote n.p.)."

Many skeptics called the 2004 race a fluke in turnout, but had to eat their words with the 2006 mid-term elections and the 2008 primaries.

In 2006, turnout among the youth increased once again for the mid-term elections. Support from the youth helped the Democrats regain control in the U.S. House and Senate (Lopez). In addition to the 2006 increase, the run-off between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination ignited a swell of young voters.

BUT THIS IS NOW

According to a Time magazine writer, the Iowa caucuses OF 2008 produced an astonishing 135% increase in young turnout. These young voters preferred Obama to any contender by more than 4 to 1. They sealed his primary win in Iowa against his other candidate foes (Drehle). There seem to be many explanations for such a large increase in youth turnout, but one that shines through all others is the diversifying of America’s youth.

America’s youth is becoming progressively more diverse every day. The number of young citizens who are white has fallen from 88% in 1972 to 65% in 2000. A main factor to this poll comes with the rising young Hispanic population. The number of young citizens who are Hispanic has grown to 16% in 2000, up from 5% in 1976. Growing minorities like the Hispanic population will play a vital role in upcoming elections, if not the most current 2008 Presidential race.

Another important factor candidates must consider is the growing gap among educated youths. Recent polls indicate that 47% of all 18-24 year olds have had no college experience while 20% of the above age group does not have a high school diploma (Lopez). This education gap has been evident since the 70s.

As taught in many political science classes, a well-known reason for participation in government comes through education (Gallman). The more education an individual possesses, the more likely he or she will participate in government through the form of voting and volunteering. Education is and will always be the primary key in creating more participation among American citizens.

THE POTENTIAL TO DECIDE

Opponents to the idea that the youth will likely make a difference in this year's election do concede that the youth vote has the potential to make the difference: “… if there’s anything that can stop young voters from sleeping through their 5 p.m. alarm, maybe it’s the knowledge that, if they get out and vote, their curmudgeonly elders will finally shut up about it (Beam n.p.)."

Perhaps most telling of the power of the youth today and for many decades to come is that the generation of the Millennials (Young) rivals the Baby Boomers (aged 36-54) in population. The youth demographic of individuals aged 0-17 makes up 72.4 million people in the United States, while the baby boomers are at 77.6 million people (Lopez). With a growing youth population, a key for education, and the young becoming more diverse, the Millennial generation can set a new tone in government participation and truly rock the vote when November 4, 2008, comes.

The youth population has favored the Democrats by a 2 to 1 margin (Young). A popular adage relates the young with liberal Democrats and the old with the conservative Republicans: "If you’re not liberal at the age of 20, you have no heart; if you’re not conservative at the age of 40, you have no brain."

This saying has some truth. The Young Democrats of America has compiled results of youth opinion when Barack Obama is matched up with John McCain; Obama leads McCain 60-33% for young voters (Young). Such a large gap between young voters for Obama over McCain might be contributed by Obama’s ability to invoke inspiration. Senator Obama provides a majority of young voters the inspiration and interest they are looking for in American government.

Writer David Von Drehle asserts: “For a group of voters with no memory of a time before Bushes and Clintons, Obama is a fresh face (Drehle n.p.)."

The uprising of young voters has the Democratic Presidential nominee focusing on education and combating the rising college costs. If the youth turnout is a factor in who gets elected President, the young citizens will finally begin to have an adequate voice in the policies implemented that will affect their future. Both of the Presidential nominees have to listen to the requests of the youth, as their votes may become deciding factors in the Presidential election.

Groups such as Divided We Fail (DividedWeFail.org) and Rock the Vote (RockTheVote.com), along with P. Diddy's high-profile "Vote or Die" campaign, have become prominent advocates of youth participation in elections. They have been using celebrities to create a sense of voting and discussing current events a “cool” thing to do. With so many teenagers and young adults worrying about their self-image, these advocacy groups have embraced that recent obstacle and turned it around as a fashion and image statement. 

YOUTH TEST 2008

November 4, 2008, will prove to be America's youth test. The speculation of voter turnout among the youth is highly anticipated. The demographic results of American voters will reveal if the youth actually went out to vote or stayed home. Evidence through the 2004 elections, 2006 elections, 2008 primaries, and the recent polls, shows that young citizens will be out in record numbers and possibly impact the result of the election. Inspiration has been a keynote word among the youth population.

Time magazine polled Americans between the age of 18-29 and asked how much impact will the 2008 election have on the country; 83% said it has a great deal of impact (Drehle).

A momentous election should be coupled with a momentous turnout not just among young citizens, but all Americans. The year of 2008 will boast a presidential election that will reverberate decades from now as influential to the future outcome of American leadership in the free world.

The youth will get up and make their voice heard to the candidates. They will finally have a say in the direction that a president leads America; after all, inherently, the youth is the future of America.

An article in Weekly Reader articulates the importance of youth voting: “Experts say the interest in politics among young people spells good things for the future of U.S. democracy. ‘One of the truisms of voting is if you vote once, you are likely to do it again,’ Delli Carpini says (Youth Vote n.p.)."

The importance of youth voting in the future will rely on this historic presidential election of 2008 to guide the way for participation among young voters. The youth is the future of this country, and they must -- and will -- be heard in this election.

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Copyright 2008 MediaBear, with all rights attributed to the author

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Editor's Note: "Rockin' the 2008 Vote" is based on an edited version of October 8, 2008, essay, entitled "The Importance of Youth Voting," which was researched and written by Will Belzak for a class assignment required by Mr. Cole, who teaches full-time in Buncombe County and oversees a 12th grade English IV AP honors course at TC Roberson, which is considered to be one of Western North Carolina's top academic high schools.