Will the Youth Vote Turn Out for Obama?

Tomorrow my 18-year-old son Jesse will be one of the millions of young people to cast his first vote for president. As a political junkie and a parent I couldn't be more thrilled. This one of those milestones you look forward to when you wonder why you braved 30 hours of labor.

My son is excited about voting, too. Like many of his peers he's been avidly watching The Daily Show to keep informed, trading political barbs on Facebook, and closely monitoring political spoofs on YouTube.

Who said the electoral college can't be a hoot?

Still, when it comes to important matters of state, like electing the first African-American president, my son can be a bit of a procrastinator. So a few weeks ago, being the exceptional hands-off parent that I am, I drove to our neighborhood post office in LA to pick him up a voter registration form. At 44 million eligible voters strong and a legacy of activism, the Millennial Generation could shape the outcome of the election. So I grabbed a few extra forms for his friends.

Which turned out to be a prescient thing. By the time I got home my son had pulled into the driveway with his friend Robert. "Oh, good," I said, climbing out of my car. "I picked up some voter registration forms for you."

After handing one to my son I thrust one at Robert, who was furiously texting on his Treo. When I gave him the form he smiled and thanked me, but then he said something truly stunning. "I'm probably not going to vote."

As someone who has voted in every presidential election since 1972, and frequently for the losing candidate, I was aghast. Not vote? Was he kidding? Wasn't he part of the highly touted youth vote, the generation who believe they can change the country with a galvanizing combination of Web savvy, grassroots organizing and optimism?

And what about the historic candidacy of Barack Obama?

Robert explained that the reason he might not vote was because he didn't think it mattered. I countered with a long breathless speech about the economy, the war in Iraq, global warming, how millions of Americans don't have health care. I hammered him about rising tuition, the credit crunch, how middle-class parents were struggling to send their children to college. The Millennial Generation was going to suffer the brunt of these problems. Wasn't it in his interest to vote? His civic duty? What if other people his age sat out the election?

I must have hit a chord, or worn him out, because Robert said he had changed his mind.

And yet the youth vote, as pundits have been fond of pointing out these last few anxious days, has been notoriously fickle. Whether they actually influence what happens tomorrow will depend not only on how many of them are determined to trek to the polls, but their tolerance for frustration. This weekend some voters in North Carolina stood in line for eight hours. Other voters are encountering dirty tricks, like the official-looking flyers in Pennsylvania that claimed Democrats vote on Wednesday. There's also fear about ballots and machine shortages. "Can Florida avoid election chaos?" fretted one headline I saw this morning.

Rock the Vote is giddily predicting young people will turn out for Obama. But some of those voters are firmly in Camp McCain. In fact, support among 18- to 29-year-olds helped the Republican candidate clinch the primary in California. A reality that recently hit home.

At a dinner to celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday, one of my son's friends not only stated his belief that Obama was a Muslim, but that his health-care plan would lead to socialized medicine. Oh, and he'd also destroy small businesses by raising taxes. Never mind my son's response; I thought my daughter, an outspoken Obama supporter, was going to choke on her tuna roll. Where had his friend heard these facts? From his father, a conservative doctor who came from a poor, immigrant family.

Without criticizing the dad, my husband calmly laid out Obama's positions. As veteran voters, we've been doing that a lot this election season, talking with young people we know about the candidates and issues, trying to steer them to reliable news sources (like the "elite liberal media"), urging the importance of making their voices heard. Maybe they listened, maybe they didn't.

But at least I know one 18-year-old who'll be joining me to vote on Nov. 4.

Follow Mona Gable on Twitter: www.twitter.com/monalg

Comments

[ron071]

The % of " youth " who turn out to vote is a valid predictor of the dumbing-down of America to date. Hopefully we will restore our faith in today's " youth" by their substantial turnout at the polls of America.

[greguva]

I was making phone calls for Obama last night. At 2 of the houses I called, the person I was calling for was a college student who was away at school. In both instances, the parents (who were Democrats) informed me, with sighs, that their sons had already voted - for McCain. I'm not sure we can count on the youth vote to put Obama in office.

[hrhkat]

I live in California, and Im a democrat, trust me, with the electoral college, my vote doesnt matter much. I am voting though, because im voting on the Props. Obama will win Calfornia, which im happy about, but I called that like 10 months ago, so im not surprised. California is a very liberal state, which I love, but come on, voting for president in either California or New york is already a done deal, people in both states vote not for the president, but mostly for the Propositions. If we went by popular vote, then your vote would mean more.

[RobHughey]

So I just turned 30 recently. And here I learn I'm not considered by all pundits to be a Youth Voter anymore.

And yet, I'm just not sure if I can put down my Xbox controller today to go vote... lol

Or better yet: I'm leaving now to go wait in line before the polls open this morning in Georgia. The sun is rising, and I find it symbolic of this entire election. Dawn is approaching to push back this long, terrible night we've all suffered for eight years.

Let the light shine on America; let it shine strong and warm with Barack Obama as our leader.

[collegemadhous]

Today my daughter will cast her vote for the very first time and I can't tell y'all how much I'm filled with elation and excitement. I've always been proud of her but it was only increased tenfold when last night she debated the candidates with her best friend of 17yrs who wasn't sure she was going to vote because she couldn't decide which candidate she would vote for.

My daughter was truly incredible to watch as she presented the facts and backed them up with information from factcheck.org. Suffice to say, after 3 long hours, her friend came away with a greater understanding, increased knowledge, and an intense desire to vote. All her fears passed onto her by her parents concerning Obama were dispelled as she went from undecided to becoming an Obama supporter. Gotta love it!

[ChicagoSuz]

Maybe you can play "the Draft" card...

[British]

LOL.

[utech]

I've voted in virtually every election since I turned 18. That was 32 year ago. Voting is a rite we have as US citizens, It's also optional. We have no other qualifications for voting other than being 18 years or older, and a US citizen. I have no issues with people who are too apathetic to vote. Just don't complain to me when the greater of 2 evils wins. Well, actually, let me add this: A cranky stuck in the mud ( fill in the age ) year old who does vote does more of a disservice than an 18 year old who doen't get to the pols.

[IzzyCA]

My 13 year old nephew has printed out the Electoral map and is waiting for the returns to come in. He won't be playing video games or watching cartoons, he'll be watching the returns. He wishes with all his heart that he is old enough to vote this year for Obama.

[Mr Grey]

i was 21 when I voted in my first Presidential election in 1976. I so was excited then and I am even more excited about my vote for Sen Obama this year. I believe if any candidate can bring out the youth vote it is Sen Obama. So no matter what your age Go Vote, you know it's the right thing to do.

[nellie]

Remind him of the median age of our people who have died in Iraq. Just a few years older than he is. All avoidable if we had elected someone else.

[JFaye]

Well Ms. Gable ... you're my kind of mom!!!

However, some of the "tweens" are being bombarded with too much information. For example, my niece was provided reading information for an essay paper due tomorrow. The material provided by her college instructor suggests Mr. Obama is a socialist. Confused and shocked, she telephoned an aunt to ask about the socialist label: My sister tactfully explained the instructor is probably a "conservative" and feels he can prey on his students gullibility using his inherrent "authority". My niece's response was "so you think he thinks we are all stupid?"

Regardless, I'm confident our youth will turn out in big numbers later today.

[donoevil]

Here is how your vote counts.

I too have felt like my vote didn't count. I've only voted for one winner, (so far), Bill Clinton.

It might be tempting to think your vote will get "suppressed" or "lost". Especially if your state goes red, the Electoral College winner take all negates it.

Maybe, maybe not.

Here is why your vote absolutely, totally, completely, matters, hands down no argument, no debate!

2000 and 2004 were stolen with the help of "Republican" secretaries of state, who now have even more power to determine elections now due to the "Help (Republican) America (suppress the) Vote Act".

Throw all the republicans out of every office they hold (unless you happen to know one who is on the side of free elections). And we need to keep doing this until we get democratic secretaries of state who will not suppress the vote.

So your vote is extremely important! But it may be more important on the local level because of our messed up electoral system. After we get honest elections, then our "big" votes may count for something.

Think "Presidential", act "locally".

[InspiredbyObama]

Well HOPEFULLY they WILL! Young ppl can be very fickle! I saw that rappers/R&B singers/etc were getting together to entertain young ppl to get them to vote! HOPEFULLY it WORKS, otherwise it will ALL be for NOTHING!!!!

Get out there and VOTE!!

Your VOTE COUNTS!!!!

[SocialistDistortion]

They better show up. Their lives (literally) depend on it. If they decide to stay home and play with the ipod and the xbox instead of putting them down for ONE day and voting...they might find themselves drafted, sent to another meaningless war, and eventually...d e a d.

If you think McCain won't demand congress to bring back the draft, you're sorely mistaken. Bush and Cheney would never have gotten away with restarting conscription without the public raising holy h.e.l.l, but McCain is just crazy enough, and has the political capital to demand such a thing without any major public repercussions.

So you hear that, youth of America? Where do you want to be....in the voting booth, or in combat boots?

[Thad]

Hey, Grandpa,

As a twentysomething who's voted early in every election since his eighteenth birthday, I don't care for your tone. This cantankerous ranting about these damn young people with their iPods and their Xboxes is not only condescending, it paints you as an out-of-touch old man who at any moment could start explaining that the Internet is a series of tubes.

If you want to stress the importance of youth voting, hey, that's swell, I'm totally with you on that. But I'd advise you refrain from telling us to turn down our music and get off your lawn while you're doing it.

[Bluedanube]

So how did your votes for Bush turn out?

[sykadelic chic]

I'm 25 and I completely agree with him. C'mon man, don't get all high and mighty, let's be honest. I have faith that youth will show up to vote, but we ALL know that dude that will simply decide it's not enough trouble and he'd rather sleep in. Yes, there's plenty of youth eager and willing to vote, but young people as a whole tends to get excited at the beginning but miss the mark when it comes to putting the hours in, when things get too tough. But it's up to those of us with the drive to drag our friends to the booth, by their leg if necessary!

[Geoffreys]

I have to agree with Thad on this one. As a fortysomething who's voted in every election since 1984, I've been listening to my elders complain about the youth being out of touch for 24 years.

Now that I can fit into the elder category myself (hey, if I'm old enougth to be their father .... I'm an elder ...) I don't want to denigrate the youth that same way. We have to remember that they're grown and can make their own decisions now - even if they're not the decisions we would make.

Now, statistically turnout for the youth demographic has been traditionally low - but then turnout for ther other age groups are pretty pathetic as well. If you're going to complain about people not voting, there are alot more people with their futures on the line.

I do think that 'My vote doesn't matter' is a valid position (I'm a Liberal in Texas so that explains that) even if I usually disagree with it. If you want to speak to that position, doing it from 'you're wrong and being foolish - now do as you're told' is not really a strong way to win over other people.

[GonzoFactor]

Wow, the youth vote . . . now, if only Obama was a guitar hero on the weekends . . . :-)