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So why are things changing now?
There are several reasons why the 2008 election is inspiring so many young voters to make their voices heard.
“Get Out The Vote” programs. These programs, run by local and national political organizations, usually focus on college campuses. Student volunteers register their friends and classmates to vote, and then remind them to participate on election day (the power of peer pressure!). Other organizations, like Declare Yourself (www.declareyourself.com) and Rock The Vote (www.rockthevote.com), use popular media like Web sites and TV -- not to mention celebrities and music -- to talk about the importance of voting and make it easy to register.
The U.S. is in a time of war. The last time young voters turned out in such high numbers was during the Vietnam War, right after the national voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971 (thanks to the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution). In fact, that amendment was passed in response to student anti-war activists who insisted that if 18-year-olds were old enough to get drafted, fight, and possibly die for their country, they were definitely old enough to vote! Today, it’s the Iraq war that’s affecting young Americans very deeply. They’re the ones going to fight overseas, and many young adults have had friends and family impacted by the war.
This election’s big issues are ones that especially matter to young people. Young voters usually care more about issues such as healthcare, energy, and the environment. As it happens, this year voters of all ages care a lot about these issues too, and they’re being addressed by the candidates. By discussing issues that interest young voters, candidates are pulling those young people into the debate and keeping them interested in the election.
Young people today are more optimistic. There’s a trend among young adults, teens, and even kids too. You may have noticed it yourself: young people are becoming more socially active, involved in volunteering, and generally determined to make the world a better place (after all, you’re going to inherit it!). These days, it’s definitely cool to care about things.
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