The Youth Vote

[bsnyder]

didn't materialize.

2000 - 18-29 year olds 17%
2004 - 18-29 year olds 17%

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I am considered youth. I voted.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I used to be youth.

 

[bsnyder]

I watched Joe Scarborough on Hardball last night, and the pundits were all talking about how energized the youth vote was and how it was going to be historical, etc, and he was the only one who disagreed. Said the youth vote never materializes and reminded everyone of the Dean fizzle in the primaries.

 

[WDWAurora]

Some of us voted both times.

 

[CruiserDew73]

so much for all this 'Vote or Die' crap and things like that...

 

[krissy3483]

how do they know that already when only half of the votes are officially in?

 

[Madi100]

I just realized I'm still youth I voted both times too.

 

[CDoobee]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
I used to be youth.

HAHA I'm right there with you, Dan!!

Debbie

 

[chadfromdallas]

Originally posted by krissy3483
how do they know that already when only half of the votes are officially in?

What I was thinking.....

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
I used to be youth.

I was youth, but today was my birthday and though I attempted to convince everyone who asked me that I was turning 21 , I don't think any of them believed me and in reality I am just pretty excited to see that I still fit into the 18-29 group.

 

[bsnyder]

Originally posted by chadfromdallas
What I was thinking.....

They make projections, based on the votes already counted and computer models.

And it's certainly jiving with the numbers we are seeing. Kerry is underperforming Gore in some of the blue states he won last time.

In Delaware, Gore beat Bush 55 to 42 — a 13 point margin. This year, Kerry is winning 53 to 46 with 92 percent of the precincts in, a 7 point margin.

In New Jersey, Gore beat Bush 56 to 41 — a 15 point margin. This year, with 93 percent of the precincts reporting, Kerry is leading 53 to 46 percent, a 7 point margin.

In Connecticut, Gore beat Bush 56 to 39 — a 17 point margin. This year, with 61 percent of the precincts reporting (okay, it's a little early), Kerry is leading 53 to 45 percent, an 8 point margin.

If you look at the states Bush won in 2000 that have already been called for him, the opposite is true. He's outperforming his 2000 numbers.

The Red states are getting darker and the Blue states are getting paler.

 

[mrsltg]

2004 - 18-29 year olds 17%

I really don't have anything to add here except for the fact that I am ECSTATIC to be considered youth! Funny thing is, I also fit into the mom, wife, homeowner, professional categories. I guess I shouldn't take the "youth" part too seriously.

Erin

 

[piratesmate]

True, the youth didn't OUT vote the "rest of us." I think that the huge number of people who registered & voted for the first time is terrific!

I have a question, though. I tried to do a search on it, but didn't feel like wading through the thousands of hits...maybe you know?

Is it 17% of eligible youth voted? Or is it that 17% of those voting were youth? If it's the former, then that's sad. But if their numbers increased but the percentage stayed the same then I think the whole "Vote or Die" thing was good!

I know far too many young people whose only interest in politics is the comedic value....or at least that was true in 2004. They all took this seriously & voted yesterday. I'm quite proud of them all!

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Originally posted by bsnyder
I watched Joe Scarborough on Hardball last night, and the pundits were all talking about how energized the youth vote was and how it was going to be historical, etc, and he was the only one who disagreed. Said the youth vote never materializes and reminded everyone of the Dean fizzle in the primaries.

I saw that also.

 

[bsnyder]

Originally posted by piratesmate
True, the youth didn't OUT vote the "rest of us." I think that the huge number of people who registered & voted for the first time is terrific!

I have a question, though. I tried to do a search on it, but didn't feel like wading through the thousands of hits...maybe you know?

Is it 17% of eligible youth voted? Or is it that 17% of those voting were youth? If it's the former, then that's sad. But if their numbers increased but the percentage stayed the same then I think the whole "Vote or Die" thing was good!

I know far too many young people whose only interest in politics is the comedic value....or at least that was true in 2004. They all took this seriously & voted yesterday. I'm quite proud of them all!

I am not positive, but off the top of my head I believe it's 17% of registered voters in that age group. That's how they quote all that kind of data.

And based on the fact that the number remains the same year after year, I don't find it sad. The numbers definitely increase with age. As people mature, get jobs, get married, buy homes, they have much more of a stake in our political process and they start to tune in and participate more.

I have two kids in that age group. One voted. The other one didn't, because he wasn't registered properly (his own fault). And I don't make any moral judgement about it. He's a great kid. He just has other things that are more of a priority for him right now.

 

[christineann]

My son called me from college in North Carolina at 1:30 last night/this morning and said that they had standing room only at their election returns get together in the dorm lobby last night. He felt that there was a lot of interest among his peers - they said that they voted. His roommate said he didn't vote because he really didn't care who won.

 

[Geoff_M]

so much for all this 'Vote or Die' crap and things like that...

Afterwards one writer I saw called the failure "Vote, or Die, or Whatever!"

 

[UncleKyle]

I read one article where a pundit stated that the youth vote was up in the air and no knew what they were talking about in youth turnout. His reason? All the youth only use cell phones and no one had their numbers to call and poll them!!!!! I had never thought about it that way but it makes me think. Most of my friends only have cell phones, and no home phone, including me. It was interesting food for thought.

 

[caitycaity]

bet - can i ask where you got that data from? 17% of registered voters 18-29 just doesn't make sense to me. traditionally, many people in that age group are not registered, and that is the problem.

this article, for example, says that in 2000 37% of all 18-14 year olds voted.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/03/MNG5B9KH4C1.DTL

i also found this:

Exit polling for The Associated Press found only one out of seven voters was age 18-29.

that's 1/7 of all voters.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/10091661.htm?1c

this article: http://www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/headlines/news.jhtml?id=1493406

makes it seem like the 17% is 17% of all voters.