Yes We Can, Yes We Will: College Democrats are Prepared to Mobilize Young People in November

At the College Democrats of America (CDA) Convention in Denver, young voters proved that we're ready to change the political landscape as we know it. Students from across the country engaged experts on issue panels ranging from the environment, faith in politics, and new media to hip hop's influence on our political culture. Students also participated in campaign training directly designed to assist with preparations on college campuses for voter registration, mobilization, protection and turnout. We know that young voters recognize the generational theme of this historic election. That's why we left Colorado clear on our goals for November 4: register, mobilize, turnout, and elect Sen. Obama.

Washington pundits have always written young voters off -- assuming that we won't turn out on Election Day. But we've already proven why this year is different. With Senator Obama as our voice, young people are more motivated and empowered than ever to have their votes counted. In the Democratic primaries, over 6.5 million young people voted -- up over 100% from 2004. Young people are voting overwhelmingly for Democrats, and our record-setting turnout in the Iowa Caucuses helped launch Senator Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primary. College Democrats across the country are confident that the trends we've seen are not a fluke. We've been on the front lines of registering and organizing voters, educating our generation on the issues at stake and why this election matters. Young people feel connected to politics again, because in Senator Obama, we have a candidate who uniquely understands our concerns -- providing college debt relief, creating new jobs, making healthcare affordable for all, and ending this disastrous war in Iraq. The issues are too relevant and the times are too tough. We know the problems and we know the solution. This year the youth will show up and vote for Senator Obama.

Our plans for this election are ambitious -- but we have no intentions of falling short. College Democrats will register and mobilize thousands of new student voters in key swing states across the country. State by state, precinct by precinct, CDA's "Precinct Project" aims at harnessing the excitement of this presidential year to maximize turnout for the entire Democratic ticket. We want the center of attention at every student activity fair to be the voter registration table. We want to bring the election to our peers and engage them about the issues and the candidates -- from the presidency to the city council.

But there are still serious hurdles for college students when it comes to voting rights. Voter suppression poses a major hurdle to college students as they head for the voting booth. Voter ID laws, a lack of ballot boxes on college campuses, and confusion regarding residency requirements prevent thousands of students from exercising their right to vote. This has been a major concern of the College Democrats since 2000, and one we will continue to fight for in this election. One of the highlights of our Denver convention was when students enthusiastic to put an end to voter suppression planned detailed, state-by-state education campaigns and learned how to petition their state officials and registrars to obtain early voting locations on their campuses.

If the College Democrats Convention has demonstrated anything, it's that not only are college students valued hands on Election Day for phonebanking and canvassing, but we are a strong and increasing constituency in the Democratic Party. We are growing, we are fired up and we are working as a unified force to elect Senator Obama and the rest of the Democratic ticket. This year, students are turning out to the polls in record numbers -- representing 25% of the primary vote -- and this trend will only increase in November. Students are here. Students are listening to the candidates. Students are educated on the issues. And most importantly, students recognize that in more than any time in recent history, this is a generational election. Politics is relevant to the youth again. We now know what it feels like to be invigorated by a candidate who represents our concerns. We proved the pundits wrong in the primaries. And we're going to prove them wrong again on November 4 by turning out and electing Senator Obama the next president.

Follow Katie Naranjo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/collegedems

Comments

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

I would just like to say, I am Very proud of the younger generation as always the unheard voices in mass are the voices that scare the establishment. Continute to get others registered and make sure they vote

[teachnotpreach]

As a professor, I teach young people, and as a former community organizer(hee hee), I helped reach those who weren't lucky enough to attend school. Youth can change the world...Remember that the Civil Rights Movement was energized & altered by a huge youth component!!! They went to the South for voter registration, they were the architects of the sit-ins & they went to jail in large numbers because many of the older folks had jobs & families and couldn't take the risk...Keep up the good work. Show us what you can do and tell us how to support you!

[Yohomegirl]

COME TO NC! We are registering over a thousand new Democrats a day statewide. But we need more volunteers. I went to a two o'clock canvassing yesterday, and ended up registering voters instead because I was the only vol to show. There had been several groups at the ten o'clock canvassing, but only me at two. And this is in Asheville. WE NEED YOU HERE NOW! We will put you up and feed you! OBAMA 08!

[SeanGardner]

Congrats. I'm apart of a group registering folks here in Western Washington State.

Even though WA is already in the tank for Obama, most of us have traveled to other states in the region that are leaning Obama - states like NV, AZ, NM, and MT.

I want to tell you Yohomegirl, NC is completely winnable for Obama. My family (on my mother's side) is one of the oldest black families in Raleigh, NC. I helped research our family back to a plantation in Raleigh in 1761. So I know the state very well, and I know how the state has changed too. And I can tell you know that the shift in the state's demographics clearly benefits Obama: young and/or educated whites; latinos; asian-americans; blacks; and suburban Republicans.

And make sure you tell women that despite a surplus in Alaska, Gov. Palin vetoed funding for tenn mothers and vetoed funds for W.I.C. (women, infants, children) recipients.

I know I've personally registered over 200 to vote since January. Sounds like you're doing even better in Asheville, NC (one of my favorite cities). Keep up the good work.

PS If you send me your e-mail address, I can send you the e-mail I've sent out to undecideds that has worked like a charm all Summer long.

[SeanGardner]

When you go around registering people, make sure you tell people about Sarah Palin's direct role in charging rape victims for exams: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html

And, tell them how John McCain, in 1994, voted against legislation -- pushed through Congress by Sen. Joe Biden -- that helped put an end to the practice of charging rape victims for sexual assault exams? In fact, McCain not only opposed Biden's legislation, but also has voted against funding it as recently as October 2007 - LAST YEAR!!! Here is the link about that: http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/mccain-voted-against-biden-law.html. Because when you see Palin's signature on the document authorizing rape victims be charged, she signs off with "Respectfully Yours", which is a slap in the face because there is nothing "respectful" about being raped. Its already a wretchedly painful experience, only to be charged for the rape exam that you may not have any money for.

The word is getting around. More people need to know this too.

[JM1104]

Whoops typing too fast! I meant "As a recent college graduate". Oh and JM are my initials--not John McCain's :)
Obama/Biden '08

[laylahb]

One word: www.my.barackobama.com

Everything you'll ever need to get out and do something for your future. Log on, check out "find events", plug in your zip and a list of things you can do will pop up. MyBo is like Facebook on steroids, so you can also check out groups, blogs, etc

www.my.barackobama.com All you need.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

well done, katie and collegedems

don't let ANYBODY tell you that you can't

it's your future (and whether you will even HAVE a future) that hangs in the balance

[FebM]

Its your future the GOP is mortgaging to China, without blinking

Bend that arch in the direction of justice. McCain is ready to Re-tire.

[anae]

Young people (Obama fellows), most of them caucasians, manned local Obamafor America campaign offices. Most of them are college age and some are high school volunteers. In my town, the volunteers responding to the volunteeer calls of these Obama fellows are middle age and older, and mostly female.
These middle age volunteers spread out to canvas and register voters. Others write letters to the editors, make phone calls and enter computer data. It is a joy to see the unity and passion generated for the campaign and the love and care for these students.
Volunteers happily face the hot broiling sun to daily knock on doors. They donate office and food supplies to the office and generally support the students. It is America at its greatest, coming together to fight for its future.
LOCATE a local campaign office by visiting ObamaforAmerica.com and click on your state and city and VOLUNTEER. FEEL THE LOVE, THE UNITY AND POSSIBILITY FOR AMERICA'S GREATNESS once again as you engage in campaign work.

[JM1104]

Due to the accessibility of information, including government info and decisions many of us have realized that our parents and grandparents basically partied on OUR tab and (no matter whether you side with "left or right") and many want to continue to do so--while calling many of us young progressives naive and stupid. Many of us are very aware of how much it matters to want to make REAL efforts to work with our allies and find ways to use our wealth and influence to try to help others help themselves. We see how much power other nations are gaining for good or ill and we would like to stay relevant. What in MHO many older people fail to see is that when they are gone, we will still be here and we will have to live with the consequences of THEIR decisions. And now people like you ANTEUS want to take away 18-21 year olds' right to NOT choose leaders that would keep letting Baby Boomers and beyond, stuffing their faces and living beyond their means??? And on top of it making us pay for all of YOUR bad decisions??? We have to vote to save ourselves from many of you.
It is my first time posting here, so apologies for the lengthy post :). This was just very personal for me.

[JM1104]

As a recent college and a under the demographic being discussed I want to say a few things:
Not all generations are the same for many reasons and for "us", a big reason is the high level of connectivity we have grown up with. I have observed (and discussed with classmates and friends) that we are much more likely to view our decisions as not only having an effect on us or our country, but that the same is true of other nations in regards to us. Growing up with access to others the way we did (and others will continue to) made our planetary neighbors not seem quite as apart from us as did previous generations. Do you really think that a poor kid (computers are pretty common in poor households) who has grown up with friends in other states and other countries won't view politics differently than they did before this was possible?...

[chuk98death]

Oh yeah we are so" fired up and ready to go" we can hardly wait for the election to be here! and acklebee what state are u in. CALL THE OBAMA CAMP at you state and ask for advice...u will be surprised I assure you!

[okwassup]

The youth vote will be the turning point in this year's election, and it's funny how young America is being overlooked. The McCain camp simply doesn't even think about them, political pundits foolishly assume because young people rarely voted in the past that's the way it will ALWAYS be, and pollsters are still using an old outdated system of polling by calling directory listed house telephones (when most every young person has an unlisted cell phone). The reason many young people didn't vote in the past is because they weren't given much of a reason to. But with the economy as it is, with the war still looming (and a draft always a possibility), and with Barack Obama including the youth and actually making them an important part of politics for the first time, they are interested, fired up, and ready to go.

Mark my words...the youth of America will turn this election on its head this time around!

[antaeus]

Weren't the Iowa caucuses--the reason why we're in this mess now--held during most students' winter break? If so, then young people there "proved" less than you would have us believe.

Since we no longer have a draft, we should take the voting age back to 21. The very young, who tend to be more progressive than Democrats as a group, serve only to skew our nominating process, thereby burdening us with candidates who are unpalatable to the larger electorate in general elections.

[courtb]

Why change the voting age? 18 is the legal age to be an adult in not only America, but the rest of the world. Even if the draft is what implemented a younger voting age, the world starts to affect us "very young" people whether it be tuition costs, healthcare, the economy, etc at the age of 18, if not even younger.

[Faith101]

When young people put their teeth in something, it sticks. They are serious this year. I see it more and more too.

[Bluejay00234]

I for one hope they come out this year.