Youth Voters Make History as Turnout Shatters Records in 2008 U.S. Presidential Primaries

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080606/pl_usnw/youth_voters_make_history_as_turnout_shatters_records_in2008_u_s__presidential_primaries

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the U.S. presidential primaries now officially over, it appears that young and first-time voters 18-29 years old registered and voted in record numbers, and that trend is expected to continue this November according to Declare Yourself, the national non-partisan, non-profit youth voting initiative.

Based on verifiable data culled from exit polls and other sources, more than six million people between the ages of 18-29 actually voted in the presidential primaries, which marks a record. The turnout is more than double that of both the 2004 and 2000 primaries. The majority of young voters -- approximately 4.9 million -- cast their primary ballot for a Democratic candidate.

Of the Democratic electorate in states in which exit polling data was available in both 2004 and 2008, the Declare Yourself analysis shows that voters aged 18-29 made up 14.5 percent of the electorate in 2008 as compared with 9.4 percent of the electorate in 2004; a 53 percent increase. On the Republican side, 18-29 year olds share of presidential primary voters increased roughly 10 percent, even as turn-out increased in all age groups.

"Now that the smoke has cleared, the final numbers from our analysis are truly phenomenal," said Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself. "We're helping to drive youth voter participation to an all-time high, and we believe young voters will continue to increase and eventually break records for the U.S. Presidential election in November."

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Awesome!

I came of voting age during the last days of Reagan, another exciting time when it seemed like the youth vote might help us extricate ourselves from that quagmire (which, oddly enough, really amounted to nothing compared to the corporate-fascist regime of W/CheneyCo.).

Way to go, young voters! This upcoming election is in your hands, and Obama has your best interests at heart.

[Aloha Spirit]

2. Oooh. I could read post after post about these registered millenial voters.

Maybe it's all those apocalypse movies that are freaking them out, lol.

[yellowdogintexas]

3. THIS right here is maybe the most important thing

now that the dust has settled.

I had to stand in line 45 minutes to vote in our primary. We overflowed for our after vote precinct caucuses, which normally could be held in 3 booths at the Braum's next door, one booth for each of the 3 precincts that vote in that polling location.

We had to move our Senatorial District convention from a smallish high school auditorium to the Will Rogers Coliseum, rodeo dirt floor and all, and there was a huge crowd.

in Texas. After 10 days of early voting which also shattered records.

I am encouraged, excited optimistic and gung ho.