Patterns in Youth Vote - Case Study Example

THE YOUTH VOTE Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………….2 1. Terms and Definitions……………………………………………….3 2. Background…………………………………………………………………….4 3. Trends & Patterns in Youth Vote……………………………………………5 4. Present Scenario………………………………………………………………6 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………...7 1. Introduction “I care about your future” – Sen. Hilary Clinton “Change starts from the bottom up” – Barak Obama Voting is a huge responsibility – a conscious decision that the general public takes to choose the government of their choice. It is a source of interaction between the voters and the state or local governments and holds immense significance especially for the youth who constitute a sizable proportion of the population and whose power to swing the decisions in favor of any of the contesting presidential candidates in the presidential election is undeniable. The youth are largely affected by the election issues, for instance, certain national and international issues such as the war on Iraq, education funding, employment issues, reproductive rights among others have far reaching effects on their lives and hence their decision to vote would largely contribute in the way they chose to live. It is due to their power and influence that history has witnessed several election campaigns directed towards youth. People from all walks of life including the likes of rocker Lenny Kravitz, to the former press secretary of the Clintons – Mike McCurry, had been roped in to woo the relatively elusive voter class. Millions of dollars are and have been spent to target the youth which includes marketing gimmicks sometimes amounting to political foolery, nonetheless done in good spirit and aimed at garnering the much coveted – vote of the youth. This paper discusses the various terms and definitions associated with the Youth Vote. A brief background, prior trends and patterns for the youth vote in previous elections, as well as a brief discussion on how the youth vote is shaping up for the November 4th, 2008 election is presented in the following sections. 1.1. Terms & Definitions The Youth Vote is a political term which is used to define the voters between the age group of 18 – 25. Primary Election: The term primary election refers to the preliminary election that takes place prior to the general election whereby the candidates to be selected on each party’s ticket are chosen by the voters. It is a process whereby the voters nominate party candidates to run the office (answers.com, 2008). General Election: It refers to an election whereby all or a majority of members of a political body are nominated for contesting the elections (answers.com, 2008). Delegates: This term refers to the party activists, individuals, or political leaders who are early supporters of a given candidate (CFR, 2008). Caucus: The term caucus is used to describe a meeting held by the members of a political party to select to select delegates to a convention or register preferences for candidates running for office (answers.com, 2008). 2. Background In the year 1971, a significant amendment in the United States’ constitution was made which marked the foray of young voters and elevated their status from mere citizens to those with a power to shape their country’s political future. According to this constitution passed by Congress March 23, 1971, ratified June 30, 1971: Section 1 “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age”. Section 2 “The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation” (U.S.Constitution.net, 2008). The national voting statistics from the year 1998 to 2004 are shown below (civicyouth.org, 2008): Number of votes cast by youth in the age group of 18 – 24 Presidential Elections Mid – Term Elections 2000 2004 2002 2006 No. of votes cast 15.9 million 20.1 million 8.9 million 10.8 million Eligible Votes 39.3 million 41.1 million 39.6 million 41.9 million (Source: young Voter registration and Turnout Trends, Feb 2008, civicyouth.org) 3. Trends and Patterns in Youth Vote: The trends in youth voter turnout are highly depictive of a growing electoral participation. Young voters, today, as compared to those in the early 1990s are more aware of the political implications and differ greatly than their counterparts in the early years. There has been an apparent surge in the previous two election cycles, and as the demographics suggest the young voters from all walks of life and irrespective of their backgrounds are turning up in large numbers to execute their right to vote. Such a rise in their awareness and interest could largely be attributed to the media participation and hype. Educational attainment is also considered to be one of the significant attributes of the voters who are most likely to vote. According to the results of the 2004 elections, 69% of the young voters held a bachelors degree or more while those without a bachelor’s degree comprised 23% of the young voting group. Race and Ethnicity: Young voters from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds comprised a high percentage of voting groups. However African and Native Americans constituted a comparatively lower percentage of young voters. Gender: The gender difference has shown a slight growth since the 1972 elections whereby the women voters comprise a significant population as compared to men. In the 2004 elections, 72 % of the graduates who voted were women as against 67% of graduates who were men. 4. Present Scenario In the upcoming 2008 elections, it is predicted that the voter turnout is likely to remain high. According to the data analyzed by researchers, consistent polling depicts the heightened interest of youth in elections has risen considerably since 2004. Although the exact data related to the number of youth vote and their participation in the upcoming elections is difficult to predict, the fact that the voter turnout in the coming elections, undoubtedly exudes positivism and hence those political candidates who successfully mobilize the power of these young voters would be victorious in their pursuits. I have presented my predictions for the elections below according to the data collected from the previous elections (exit polls) which is apparently based on certain assumptions. Considering the % of black voters rises in 2008 as compared to 2004 which was 11%, as well as the white voters who constituted 77% of the total vote in the 2004 elections, they are most likely to vote for Barak Obama. Bibliography Council for Foreign Relations, (2008). Who are delegates?, viewed: November 5, 2008, from: Answers.com, (2008). Caucus, viewed: November 5, 2008, from: U.S.Constitution.net, (2008). Amendment – 26, viewed: November 5, 2008, from: Civicyouth.org, (2008). National Voting Statistics, viewed: November 5, 2008, from: Read More