More youth are heading to polls but apathy still dominates
Lori Aratani / Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT)
SAN FRANCISCO - Georgy Russell, 27, made headlines across
the country in the fall for selling thong underwear to
finance her campaign for governor in California's recall
contest. She persuaded 2,216 people to support her, but she
still can't persuade her younger sister, Sophie, to tune
in to politics.
Such is the dilemma of the youth vote. While the potential
payoff is immense - about 1 in 5 eligible voters is younger
than 30, according to the University of Maryland's Center
for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
- getting those voters to turn out can be difficult, even
when they're related to the candidate.
Young voters are notoriously hard to turn out at the polls.
In presidential election years from 1972 to 2000, the turnout
rate declined by 13 percentage points among voters 18-24
years old, according to the University of Maryland. In 2000,
42 percent of voters 18-24 years old voted, while 70 percent
of citizens 25 and older did.
If recent surveys are any indication, however, 2004 could be
the year that younger voters make an impact. More young
people say they plan to vote in this year's presidential
contest than four years ago. And a new series of initiatives
spearheaded by such diverse players as Hollywood producer
Norman Lear to wrestling superstar Bradshaw are focused on
making it happen.
A recent MTV poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research
Associates found that 4 out of 10 of the 18- to-24-year-olds
surveyed said they will "definitely vote" in the
next presidential election - up nearly 30 percent from 2000.
A survey by Harvard University's Institute of Politics
found two-thirds of college students were registered to vote
and 82 percent of those said they planned to vote this year.
"It's clear that there's a lot of young
interest this year," said Ara Khachatourian, the media
director for MTV's Rock the Vote campaign, which is
entering its 14th year. "The economy and, of course,
9-11 and war in Iraq have really engaged folks. This year
they're pausing and looking at issues outside of their
immediate realm."
Early signs are promising: Exit polls taken during the Iowa
caucuses in mid-January showed voter turnout among those
younger than 30 almost doubled to 17 percent, from 9 percent
in 2000. The number of voters younger than 30 was higher than
that of the 30- to 44-year-old crowd.
Even so, young voters aren't a sure bet.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was among the first of the
2004 field to use the Internet to reach college students and
other young people. His Web site includes a separate section
targeted at younger voters, called Generation Dean. But the
early buzz on college campuses hasn't been enough to help
him win a primary or caucus.
Four years ago, Nima Niakan, a 28-year-old Silicon Valley
techie was like many young professionals with good civic
intentions. He registered to vote and planned to support Al
Gore. But when Election Day rolled around, he was busy and
never made it to the polls. At the time it wasn't a
priority.
Four years later, things had changed. Niakan's still
busy - but he's also grown increasingly disenchanted with
the Bush administration.
"I don't like the `We're going to do it our
way' approach," he said. "I'm a person
who's traveled to 10 or 15 countries over the last three
years, and I've found that that policy reflects back on
me. I get subjected to questions about what Bush does."
This year he vowed to do more than just vote; he was going
to participate. Niakan became the San Francisco coordinator
for C Company, the Wesley Clark effort to attract young
professionals. C Company campaigned for Clark through e-mail
and the popular Craig's List Web site. Gatherings were
held at apartments or hip nightspots.
Other nonpartisan efforts are joining forces to reach out to
young voters in 2004.
Producer Lear's initiative, "Declare
Yourself," includes tours of 18 different college
campuses. The group has also linked with Friendster, the
popular Web networking site to launch "voter
parties" featuring cast members from MTV's "The
Real World."
"We're really trying to reach young people where
they live, work and play using popular culture," said
Declare Yourself spokeswoman Christy Salcido. "Research
shows it's important to get them early."
World Wide Entertainment's effort - "Smackdown Your
Vote" - includes voter registration drives at wrestling
events. The drive will culminate at WrestleMania XX in New
York next month.
Russell, who's mulling a run for city council in
Mountain View, Calif., if she doesn't get into business
school, said getting young people's attention can be
difficult, but it can be done. The key is talking to them,
she said, not at them.
As for Niakan, he's still engaged. His mission now is to
get his younger brother, Navid, to register to vote.
"Maybe something will happen," he said.
"It's all about having the conversation."
From professional wrestlers to spoken-word artists, many
nonpartisan groups and celebrities have kicked off aggressive
campaigns to reach out to young people this year. Here are
some Web sites to learn more about their efforts:
www.smackdownyourvote.com
www.declareyourself.com
www.rockthevote.com
www.youthvote.org
www.stateofthevote.org
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© 2004, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
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