Post anecdotal evidence about new voters and nonvoters, pleez

[Onlooker]

Do you have any anecdotal evidence of excitement among new voters and people who don't always vote being motivated to vote?

Are there people you know who never bother to vote, but are excited about this election?

Do you have evidence of excitement among "ordinary" people that suggests they will actually vote and vote for Kerry?

Among those who aren't political, do you see evidence they will turn out in large numbers this time around and vote for Kerry?

[Birthmark]

1. I know five.

My brother, his wife; my mother-in-law; my brother-in-law; and my sister. None of these people have *ever* voted before, but have been motivated by Bush to register...and vote for Kerry.

The best part - they all live in FL. :)

[belladonna]

2. My daughter is voting for the first time this year

As is my son and every single one of their friends. All for Kerry and they ARE excited about it. So there's about 20 more votes for Kerry in Virginia this year alone.

I also talked a lot to some co-workers who simply have never voted because they didn't care enough until this year. They're all voting Kerry as well, so another five votes for Kerry in a state that IS in play this year, regardless of what the GOP says.

[BattyDem]

3. All of the above

I know several 18/19 year olds who are incredibly excited about voting for the first time AND about getting rid of *!

I know people who were never registered and/or they haven't voted in years ... and they can't wait to throw Chimpy's ass out of office.

I know many people who voted for * in 2000 and they always vote Republican ... and they are either voting for Kerry or not voting at all.

And ... I even some people who have always said, "It doesn't matter who gets in - they're all the same" ... and they are actually getting off their asses and voting because "we can't have four more years of this idiot."



That's why I think the polls are bullshit! Many DUers have posted stories about their friends/relatives/neighbors/co-workers who were life-long Republicans, yet they are now voting for Kerry or not at all. We keep hearing about the high numbers of newly registered voters. Well, let's be realistic - people who have never voted don't suddenly decide to register because they are happy with the way things are.

Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000. Even if 10% of his supporters vote for *, there's no way that will compensate for the new voters, the Republicans going for Kerry, the Nadarites going for Kerry, and the non-voters who are finally going to participate because they are fed up with the way things are. Even well-known Conservative/Republican politicians and publications are going for Kerry.

How can * and Kerry be tied??? :shrug:

[belladonna]

6. Doesn't explain it all, but cell phones play a big part

My kids and their friends don't get polled, because they carry cell phones and nobody can contact them that way. Hell, the only thing I have at the moment is a cell phone, so they won't be polling me either.

[Indiana_Dem]

4. I had to go to a poll worker meeting this morning.

The clerk told us of a woman who was born in 1917 (87YO) and came to see if she was still on the registration list because she hadn't voted in 20 years!!!! The clerk didn't say whether the lady was Dem or Rep but I don't think someone that hasn't voted for 20 years would all of a sudden decide to now unless it would be to vote out the incumbent!!!

[Indiana_Dem]

5. Sorry, dupe

[Astrochimp]

7. Happy people do nothing.......

if everything is going well, they float down stream, no need to waste time with voting.

Just think what it took to get them off their butts, and register to vote. They did NOT do it because everything was O.K.


Or-

To "do something" requires outside force.