17 Year Olds Voting??? Yes.
By: Susan Mariner
Published On: 1/10/2008 11:42:31 PM
(Crossposted at www.vademocrats.org)
Do you know any 17 year olds who will be 18 by the 4th of November? If so, make sure they're aware that Virginia law permits them to register in advance and vote in any intervening primary or special election. Of course they don't have much time to make that happen if they want to vote in the February 12th presidential primary. The deadline for registering to vote in this primary is 5PM this coming Monday, January 14th. Anyone wishing to print up an application on their own printer can do so here.
David Hardt, the President of Young Democrats of America, sent out an exciting email yesterday. In it he says,
"What we are hearing about the involvement of young voters in the New Hampshire Primary is mind blowing. Voters between the age of 18-29 made up 18 percent of the electorate (which is 5% more than voters over 65), and cast twice as many votes as they did in 2004."
These amazing numbers come on the heels of an incredible showing by young people at the Iowa caucuses. There can be no doubt that young people are making their voices heard in this nomination process.
From the YDA website:
"In 2004, young people turned out in record numbers and turned out for Democrats, as the only age group to support the Democratic ticket. In the 2006 election, voters ages 18-29 made up 21% of the electorate (41.9 million) and supported Democratic candidates by an impressive 58 percent - six points higher than voters as a whole. This same age group was the only age group that Democrats won in the 2004 election. "
All of this bodes extremely well for the Democratic Party. As Chairman Dean reminds us, if we get new voters to vote Democratic three times in a row, chances are we'll have them for life. So let's get one of those three times under our belts early this year and urge young Virginians to vote on February 12th. Now is THEIR time, so now is OUR time.
Comments
17 Year Olds Voting???Yes. (ncmcpherson - 1/11/2008 12:46:27 AM)
Yes, now is THEIR time. They're just beginning to "test" themselves and many don't have a party loyalty, they're just looking for an individual candidate to support. We have the best to choose from by far in 2008. They can look back at the last 2 years and see what a difference we're making. We need to embrace all generations, but focusing on the youth is critical. We must have that generation behind us to carry on into the future. I'm heartened to see so many young people choosing to vote. We need to look to our own family members to ensure that they are registered to vote and if they're away at school, ensure that they get an absentee ballot and vote. Ask the same of your children's friends. some of the 18-29 year olds may have been too young to remember the emotional roller coaster of the 2000 Presidential election, they may have been too involved in other things to fully recall, with anguish, the 2004 election but they're living through what's happening as a result of it & facing it every day in the news, at the gas pumps and for many who chose to join the military service, it's a dangerous encounter. They'll never have more conviction than NOW to cast a vote. We MUST tap into this energy...WE HAVE A DUTY TO SHARE THE BATON!
A Habit Well Worth Encouraging Early (dsvabeachdems - 1/11/2008 7:06:47 AM)
And anything to prompt the citizenry to participate is good for democracy. Even if they don't see it exactly your way right now, there's nothing like a little experience to bring them into the fold. But they have to participate before their opinions matter in any way at all.
Reg Deadline for the primary is Monday (Ben - 1/11/2008 8:18:32 AM)
95% sure about that.
Oh Sorry (Ben - 1/11/2008 8:19:10 AM)
You already said that
Deadline for Registration (Susan Mariner - 1/11/2008 12:54:34 PM)
Thanks Ben. I appreciate your bringing attention to the fact that the deadline is so soon. I probably should have bolded that in the diary.
A 17 year old voter in this house (demdiva - 1/11/2008 8:43:07 AM)
He's already voted in the 1st CD and joined the Stafford Democratic Committee. He's definitely the youngest voting committee member. He's been working on campaigns since he was a tot. His younger brother too, although he has a few years to wait before he can register to vote.
Emily Couric had it right when she said that working in the political process is a form of community service. When parents are politically active with their children, the kids learn all kind of skills that will help them in other areas of their lives. Kids can do so much to be effective contributors to the political process well before they are voting age. When children perform needed tasks they learn how they can make a meaningful impact on the world, which is a huge self-esteem booster. Don't be afraid to bring the kids. Children love being with their parents and if you ease them in by doing simple tasks with immediate results they will feel part of the team.
Some things we've done as a family include lit-dropping (kids in the back seat folding lit as we go), staffing polls from opening to closing, phone-banking (an all-nighter with Don Beyer for Howard Dean -- Don's daughter was only 11 0r 12 and she lasted all night), voter contact at community events, sign waving, traveling to work on Presidential campaigns in Iowa (Dean), West Virginia(Kerry)and next weekend to South Carolina for Clinton.
Done - sent off application last week. (totallynext - 1/11/2008 10:01:05 AM)
It will be fun for him to go to the polls with me on Primary day. I think I also will recruit him to had out ballots.
I've got one in Prince William (casey - 1/11/2008 4:34:37 PM)
Add another Blue voter in PWC. My daughter turns 18 at the end of September and we'll get her registration dropped off on Monday to get her set in time for the primary.