Age 18 - 24 voters will swing the election to Kerry

[Ugnmoose]

In 2000 there were approximately 27 million people aged 18 - 24. It is estimated that approximately 37% of this group cast ballots in the Presidential election of 2000 for a total vote of around 10 million. Given what we know about this years newly registered voters and turn out so far, I think it would be safe to say that the number of voters in this age bracket should easily surpass the past record of 50% hit during the Viet Nam War. So let's say for the grins that we get 60% turnout in this age bracket. The current estimated number of 18-24 aged people is now approximately 28 million. Therefore, we might expect to have a total of 16 million votes from this group. Recent surveys are showing this age group breaking about two thirds for Kerry and one third for Bush. This represents a net gain for Kerry of around 5 million votes. If experts are right and the turnout is 125 million votes cast, this would represent an added 4% to Kerry's total and should easily seal the election for him.

[kentuck]

1. This could be the story of this election...

The "Internet" generation.

[d_b]

2. I'm 22

and I've personally registered five friends who wouldn't have voted otherwise. They're voting for Kerry I might add :-p

[Ugnmoose]

4. Congrats

It is so gratifying to us old farts to see the young turks getting involved. It may be the one good thing Bush ever did for this country.

[d_b]

8. Agreed. Bush IS a uniter. :-)

[Claire Beth]

12. please be sure they get to the polls on Tues.....

we need EVERY vote we can get.

[d_b]

19. They can't escape

They're getting IN the car with me. They know.

I live in Alaska so I know it probably won't matter about bush but I'm sure we can send Knowles to the Senate here.

[nirvana3240]

3. I disagree

you see, thats what everyone says but I'm not so sure of it. I'm a young person myself and I think people underestimate the amount of young conservatives....they're there, they just don't vote.

[joanne]

5. Younger voters are the least likely to vote, however

[requiem99]

6. They're not there. The ratio of libs to conservatives 18-26 is 3-1 or more

[fujiyama]

7. You're right

They are out there. I'd say a majority is liberal, but it's probably slim.

Many that attend college are the rich spoiled brats that have the attitude, "My daddy gets a tax cut", "Let's kill them sand n*ggers" mentality.

Those people are chickenhawks of the highest order.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Well OK, as long as they don't vote

[Firespirit]

9. I can easily believe it...

Anecdotal report here, but hey... if it gives somebody a boost who's still recovering from a near nervous breakdown, great. :)

I was at the campus of MS State today. Official purpose: Meet with some professors and finalize my graduate school admission. (Succeeded, BTW.) Soon thereafter I was wearing my Kerry button when I passed a big display of merchandise and information by the Campus Democratic organization, and they gave me the thumbs-up for the button, so I stopped to talk with them.

While I was there, I witnessed a LOT of students stop and ask for information. Here, in Redneck Central USA! There was also a lot of interest in the group's plan to show F911 in the campus theater tonight.

Near the booth was a charity fundraiser sponsored by another org -- Habitat for Humanity I think -- called "Jail & Bail." Students could donate X amount of money to the group in exchange for having a friend agree to enter this foam cage they had set up for a period of time. The Campus Democrats had a member in a * mask who was "jailed" repeatedly. I mean even after his time expired, some passerby would make a donation to put "Bush" back in "jail." Here, in this seeming reddest of red states, * was ridiculed and mocked like I've seen only on sites such as this one. Yet it was good-natured and fun, completely unlike Repug "humor."

It thrilled me. (And then I logged on to DU and saw the freakin' meltdown over Osama and Tweety. Thanks guys. :P)

I don't pretend to deny that there are extreme right-wing young adults. I know one, my second cousin, and I am sad to say that our friendship came to an end in early 2001 over the appointment of Ashcroft. These people do exist and they are sick, angry, hate-filled individuals, worse in some ways than their parents.

But I believe that there are more who are NOT.

[Ugnmoose]

10. Nice to hear

I think youngsters today are alot more knowledgeable about issues than we older folks believe. I think it may be that just about everyone in this age bracket is on the Internet.

[Hog lover]

15. My Mississippi nieces are breaking with Repuke parents

and voting for Kerry.

BTW, congrats to MSU on your big win over the Gators. I hear Gator meat tastes real good. (just leave my piggies alone, okay?)

[StupidFOX]

11. Give Eminem some of the credit.

I never liked his music until tonight. That was awesome, and he really illustrates the outrage we, the young idealistic future of this nation, feel.

[Ugnmoose]

13. Springsteen is also revving them up

80,000 in crowd at Madison WI.

[StupidFOX]

21. Yeah, he's getting the older-youngs (if that makes any sense)

Like 25-30 year olds.

[gauguin57]

14. In Lancaster, PA, Repubs have been trying to make trouble for college

students who have registered to vote here. Saying they shouldn't be allowed (which is bullshit ... they are area residents -- I registered to vote in the precinct where my dorm was located when I went to a PA school in another town.)

So, various local groups went to a lot of trouble to get these kids registered and now they're being hassled. (A lot of Franklin & Marshall College students are from New York and New Jersey and Mass. and D.C. -- so they're supposed to miss a couple of days of classes to go home to mommy and daddy's to vote?)

[Hog lover]

16. Hope you got to vote - at least a provisional ballot

I am going to be a poll-watcher for the state Dem party and we aren't in the business of challenging the right of people to vote. If students are registered, we will help them vote, and will call the party hot-line if there is a pattern of challenges by the Grand Old (Fascist) Party.

[abumbyanyothername]

20. There is a court case on this

Someone needs to get a lawyer to this town IMMEDIATELY.

Students ARE allowed to vote where they are going to school.

The case is on Mike Moore's site. brb.

[abumbyanyothername]

22. Students Voting at School

Symm v. United States, US Supreme Court 1979, says that students cannot be asked about whether they are students as part of an effort to establish the residency of those students.

Note that procedurally this was a case of the Court summarily affirming a ruling of the lower court, and Rehnquist dissented noting that this seemed to be a ruling on the merits but he felt all the federal courts lacked jurisdiction.

[Arcturus]

18. Hey, I'm 18-24!

And I already voted for Kerry.