By Austin Wright
The pool of 18- to 25-year-olds signing up to vote in this year’s presidential election is growing at twice the rate of all Virginia voters, according state election officials.
The surge in young registrants, which experts attribute to heightened interest in national politics, means that the group of voters 25 and younger in the state has grown 10 percent in the past year, while the growth in the entire voter pool has increased 5 percent, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections.
The young voters make up only a slightly larger portion this year of Virginia’s 4.7 million registered voters – an estimated 11 percent of all voters a year ago and 12 percent today. As of last week, 569,817 registered voters in the commonwealth are under 26 years old.
The clout of the youth vote will depend on whether the young registrants turn out in high enough numbers at the polls.
Population growth could be contributing to the surge, given that the number of 18- to 24-year-olds is growing faster than Virginia’s overall population, according to counts and projections by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Still, many analysts say they haven’t seen so much interest among young voters in a long time, and the candidates are paying attention.
Gail Gitcho, the mid-Atlantic communications director for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, said dozens of young volunteers are coming to McCain’s Virginia offices every day to work for the 71-year-old senator.
“McCain has a very strong appeal among young people,” she said, noting that he’s reaching out through Facebook, YouTube and late-night television appearances. McCain has been on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” 13 times – the most of any guest.
But it’s presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama whom many analysts credit with driving enthusiasm among young people.
Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, said Obama’s message of change resonates with young voters.
“It takes specific events to get people interested and involved, and I think the Obama candidacy has produced a dramatic upward spike in youth interest in politics,” Sabato said. “College students have gotten more involved in this race than in any other race since 1972, the Nixon-McGovern race, which was the first time 18- to 20-year-olds could vote.”
Living a large portion of their lives with George W. Bush as president also has motivated young people to get involved, Sabato said.
“That’s a burden McCain is bearing,” he said. “Many voters hold him accountable for George Bush’s performance.”
The larger increase in under-26 voters compared with the increase in voters overall suggests there will be higher voter turnout in that age group than in previous years, Sabato said.
Voter statistics will likely continue to change, as there are still more than two months until the Oct. 6 deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election.
Carol Pretlow, a political science professor at Norfolk State University, credits Obama with what she sees as a dramatic increase in political participation.
“This past year, I’ve seen a growth in students not only registering, but being involved in information gathering and talking to their classmates,” Pretlow said. “Particularly for my students, they’re saying that they identify with Obama because he came up not from a privileged background.”
McCain and Obama each have profiles on Facebook, a social networking Web site popular among college and high school students that has more than 80 million users.
Obama’s profile boasts 1.2 million “supporters,” or users who have added Obama to a list of profiles they track. McCain’s profile has about 170,000 “supporters.”
“Obama was on all the Internet stuff really early on,” said 21-year-old Virginia voter Zach Pilchen, a student at the College of William and Mary who is working for Rock the Vote this summer in Washington. “For a candidate to have a constant presence there – that is something that’s pretty effective.”
McCain’s campaign also released an online video game, called “Pork Invaders,” in which players shoot “vetoes” at pigs in the sky, a concept that represents McCain’s vow to eliminate pork-barrel spending.
Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan national organization working to register young people to vote, classifies Virginia as one of four “Tier I” states, meaning the organization believes the youth vote will decide which presidential candidate wins the state. The other Tier I states are Ohio, Colorado and New Mexico.
“I think both of these candidates are not your typical candidates,” Pilchen said. “It’s on both sides – not just Obama, who certainly has a lot of youth appeal.”
McCain’s reputation as an independent voice who often co-sponsors legislation with Democrats appeals to young voters, Pilchen said.
State Del. Jeff Frederick, R-Prince William County, the 32-year-old chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, agreed.
“Just because you’re 71 years old doesn’t mean you can’t relate to someone who’s younger,” he said.
Enthusiasm among young voters is no different this year than during any other presidential election, said Frederick, who predicts young voters will have the same influence as they did four years ago.
Nationally, turnout among young voters has been below 50 percent in every presidential election since 1972 – the first time 18- to 20-year-olds could vote. In 2004, 47 percent of registered 18- to 24-year-olds voted, compared with 66 percent of registered voters older than 24.
Of those who registered to vote in Virginia during the first six months of 2008, nearly half were under the age of 25, and the majority of them were teens who had just reached voting age – 18-year-olds, along with 17-year-olds who will turn 18 before Election Day. The majority also were women.
Austin Wright, (757) 446-2667, austin.wright@pilotonline.com
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Mary
Mary thanks, but you really didn't need to apologize. Sometimes we all get passionate about a subject and just "let it fly", and not give it proper consideration of others.
Thanks again,
Gertz
Gertz
No, I apologize, Gertz.
It's probably just a generational thing--many people write on this board in something that is probably more text message than essay style.
I am sure when you corresponded with Hillary Clinton that you proofread your writing. Lots of people my age (just turned 50) proofread everything they write--I was taught it showed respect for my audience. I was taught that by a journalism teacher and great lady who is now in her 80's and also taught me, a conservative born-again Christian, that a liberal atheist can be a powerful influence on one's life when she is a person of great integrity, as this lady was. Cheers, MGM
Marym
At no point did I say I was a friend of Mrs. Clinton, I state that when she was First Lady I did meet with her on an issue and we spoke several times on the phone. Sorry, for my typo's runon's or whatever complaints you might have, but sometimes I just type and don't go back and proof what I've written. Please forgive me!
Highlight
I should have highlighted the statements meaning. People hate Hillary because of Bill. I have never heard of an objective reason for the hate displayed toward her aside from what transpired during Bill's presidency.
Alienlifeform-If you believe earth polls you are going to have a lot of problems here on this planet. Thanks for letting us know your political leanings though. As a visitor to earth you should fit right in w/ Obama's supporters.
Gertz Point
When you write a grammatical construction this way: "As First Lady, I . . ." the "I" refers back to the antecedent and, grammatically, says that *you* were First Lady instead of Hillary Clinton. That is an error being made more and more these days. But I wouldn't expect it of people who had been personal friends with the president or his wife.
You had a few misspellings and run-on sentences in your post, too.
Call me old-fashioned, but I often factor a person's knowledge of grammar into my overall judgment of their posts.
Yes, I am sure you would not like me very much at all. Cheers, MGM
Human politics can be confusing
It appears from your earth polls that Mr. Obama will beat the ancient and confused one. The polls also show that youth are responding to Obama and registering in record numbers to ensure his election.
Why are you talking about this past leader Clinton? Do you miss him so much? He must have been very special to you.
Ira
You are making a common mistake..... Hillary Clinton is NOT Bill Clinton, and I wish people would learn the difference, but you know something, they won't even try.
So now we have Obama the messiah, and McCain the fool. One will become president, God help us all!
Gertz
People in the military hated Bill Clinton because he reduced their funding. Although their aim is supposed to be to protect, in the end they lobby for funds just like other groups. When Clinton scaled back the military they were furious. Many saw it as the end of the world. I was knee deep in a military household when he was elected. Early retirments and lower recruitments were the game of the day. The venom has never lessened. Hillary is an extension of this. It is just another group that is out for itself and not for the good of all of the people. No one has come up w/ a valid reason to hate this woman so much.
The writer of the post actually is wavering between Obama and McCain? Is that possible?
RE: Clinton ripple
"To know her is to dislike her, eh?"
You are so terribly wrong!
Actually if you would have ever met Hillary Clinton you wouldn't say that at all. As First Lady, I met Mrs. Clinton several times and spoke with her on the phone just as many. Hillary Clinton is ambicious, like everyone in politics, she's very much admired by people who do know her, and her background is very diverse and knowledgable. In the primaries she got railroaded by the media pormoting the messiah Obama. Anyone can speak against her politics, but unless you actually know someone you really should shut up because she truly is liked.
I think I dislike, YOU! Actually, I'm sure I would if I knew you.
JUST A THOUGHT
Reading these comments is far more edifying than the newspaper itself. I wonder how long this will last.
Gnashing
However, I feel they would all nominate Hoover for worst president.
Attempting to add emotional undertones to my words are you? Quite the tactic from the Obama misinformation corps. I know how it gets you guys worked up when people have valid questions. We are supposed to be going around in the 'Obama trance' waiting for the messiah. It's no differnet than the fervent partisanship that got GWB elected. Your actually promoting what you are against. That is the definition of irony.
Am I "gnashing?" LOL
Ira - you are a humorless soul
Relax my friend. You're way too uptight. Now, if a particular voting block (senior or junior) backed a candidate who has won the WorstPresidentEver award, i would find that voting block's decision making process suspect. That is all. Gnash on mi amigo.
The Clinton/ripple effect . . .
I don't purport to speak for other military people . . . I made my own decision . . . but I have heard that many of us crossed party lines in the Virginia primary to vote against Clinton. Now, will I actually follow through and vote for Obama in the general election? I don't know. Certainly not if Clinton is his running mate.
There was no need for Virginia Republicans to vote for McCain in the primary as he already had the nomination.
It was telling that Clinton lost Virginia, the District, and Maryland after living in that area for eight years. To know her is to dislike her, eh? At least if you're military. Cheers, MGM
"If it can be shown that our
"If it can be shown that our elderly voters...
Submitted by TR on Mon, 07/21/2008 at 2:20 pm.
... trended toward voting for GeeDub not just once but twice, can we really give the "youth vote" a hard time?"
So wisdom and experience count for nothing if people do not vote according to his beliefs? I do not support GWB but I surely will not question those senior to myself becasue they do not do what I like for them to do. The writer suggests that those who are more likely to vote based on emotion and lack of facts would be preferable to "elderly voters." But I guess if Obama has a solid base it is surely rooted within those who do not ask questions and only accept answers that suit them.
I don't agree
I didn't say Hillary or Huckabee would have been a better choice, but I will continue to say anyone but Obama or McCain would have been better. Currently Obama is trailing in the polls, even after his rock star crowds during the primaries. McCain is a dissapointment to many Republicans and as big a mistake as Obama. Even many Repubs are sick of the Bush war of lies, which McCain will continue and look for another war, possibly Iran. A number of Repubs voted for Obama which was a vote agains Hillary, and they are still laughing about it. Hillary would have won this election over McCain. Again, I'm not saying she is the best candidate, but she is better than Obama. John Edwards or Mitt Romney would have been equally as good as well. Huckabee? NO! Politics is a matter of design, and the design was for Obama, but I don't understand the design for McCain. And it's not because he's more electable regardless of what you think. I think someone mess up, never thinking he would actually get the nomination.
Gertz Point
So you believe that Hilary Clinton was a better choice then Obama? Sorry my friend, that is a joke. The only better mainstream candidate then Obama was John Edwards, and he is way too far left to win a general election.
Obama was easily the safest pick for the Democrats. He is youthful and his politics motivate young voters. He is black, which automatically gives him a leg up with minorities. He is also willing to ride the fence on every single issue like Bill Clinton. He also wouldnt have to deal with the backlash from Bill Clinton haters or people who cant see a woman ever running anything.
McCain, I think he was a good shot with the Republicans as well. He is a good icon for pro-war supporters, a few of which reside in the democratic column, he also shifts "left" on a few issues that normally republicans line up on.
Both of these candidates were ideal for grabbing votes out of the others column. If the
coolguy
"They arent the best, not by far. They are simply the most electable faces of the elite oligarchal plutocracy we are a part of."
I disagree. Both parties shot themselves in the foot, by electind Obama and McCain as the nominee.
People went to the primaries and voted for the media darling Obama, for the simple reason they didn't want Hillary. Every time Obama takes a breath the media was all over him, and kept his face on every front page news story. McCain is a totaly joke, and will be another Bush. We can't take 8 more years of Bush as president. Both parties made a HUGE mistake and for all the wrong reasons.
100,000 more?
In Virginia alone, 100,000 more young voters showed up in the February primaries than they did four years ago.
Sean - you know better than that. So what? The overall turnout was up nearly 600,000 votes. So that means nearly 500,000 more mature voters showed up than in 2004. Raw numbers only make sense in context.
Now if you wanted to say that the percentage of young voters increased from an estimated 8% to an estimated 14% of turnout, then your comment would make more sense.
markg
They arent the best, not by far. They are simply the most electable faces of the elite oligarchal plutocracy we are a part of.
Reality check folks
Every beauty contestant says the same thing, "I want peace and happiness for all the world". Don't all of us? It's a lovely but idealistic thought. It's Obama's whole campaign premise. It will never be reality. Some young people seek to understand and interact in today's politics. The problem is they're stuck in the present day. They need to look back over three or four decades to be truly informed. These same children are being indoctrinated in schools and public/private colleges by a very liberal front. They have been swayed left because they have no valuable life experiences to pull from. We 40-90 y.o. americans have a lot more knowledge of what life truly is, self-preservation. As pessimists, we're really optimists with experience. I've voted in every election, at every level, since I became of voting age. For the first time I have actually considered not voting in absolute disgust.