Does the youth vote make any difference?

Question

During every election cycle, the candidates attempt to court the youth vote, either thinking it will make a difference, or at least wanting to appear as if they care.

History shows you can have all the "Rock the Vote" rallies you want, but youths still don't vote in large enough numbers to make a difference.

Why is it that so many young people have no problem complaining about the President on an online forum, but won't actually vote?

Answer 1

Please VOTE!

Answer 2

Sometimes I wonder if the Libs understand the aging process.

They clearly miss it with economics arguments - they don't grasp that the average age of the "top 20%" by income is about 25 years older than the average age of the "bottom 20% by income.

But they also miss it in discussing the "youth vote" - I head Dan Rather give a whole long analysis of how John Kerry had done with "the youth vote" relative to Al Gore, and I felt like screaming at the TV - you idiot, it's not the same people, the comparison would be how did Kerry do with people age 24-28 versus how had Gore done with people age 20-24 - - not sure how they missed that one.

Bottom line, it's an attractive area for Dems because it's largely voters who have never held a real job yet, don't earn serious money yet, haven't paid serious taxes yet, and only a small minority of them are Econ, Accounting or Finance majors, or other business majors, so you're more likely to get them to buy into class warfare BS.

Answer 3

Maybe because we lack the time to research the political process and candidates or drive to a voting booth. 18-23 year olds are often undergrads in college. 23+ to 30 are in grad school. Do you know how many midterms and papers we have to write around election time? I sincerely intended to vote last November. Unfortunately, I had two exams the day after election day, so I used election day and all of the prior days to study. I also spent the prior month writing papers and reading other college material. I think I had time to only research three propositions.

I know people will say, "Well everyone is busy no matter what age you're at." That's not entirely true. You know that college is like the most stressful time period ever. At least with work, you get to go home and usually not have any homework.

Answer 4

Yes,

Its switch from Republican in 2004 to Democrat in 2006 changed the makeup of Congress.

The low turnout while Gen X were the young voters was because Gen X are realists. They realized that their vote wouldn't matter too much as long as big government exists. Gen Y is far more optimistic and heavily interested in voting. It isn't that young people are disinterested in voting. It's that there are no Libertarians that have much chance of being elected.

Young people today are the most skeptical of government in America since the days of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. In the long run, we'll see the end of big government. Older generations can vote themselves all the entitlements they want, but today's Youth will take them away in the future.

To vote for a Liberal or a Neo-Con is to throw away your vote. Big Government has never worked and will never work. Only that system that government lovers hate known as Capitalism can work in the long run.

Look at the success Ron Paul's having running on a platform that appeals most to young voters. He's at 3% in the polls, 5th among the GOP despite no media coverage. Once he gets it the debates in a month or so, they'll no longer be able to contain him to just the Internet and his poll numbers should skyrocket. In 10-20 years, it'll be impossible for somebody who loves government to be elected dog catcher. The course of history is going against big government.

Answer 5

The younger age group tends to have lower voter turnouts. If younger people started voting in larger numbers more politicians would take that age group more seriously. It's not that they don't care but they can't spend the time and resources on a group that typically has lower turnout.

A lot of the "Rock the vote" issues just get younger people talking about voting, yet many still fail to show up at the polls.

Answer 6

Big G ... THAT is the question. You know, in the past, I've seen some especially ridiculous comments, blog-type posts, and unsubstantiated allegations against both sides of the political aisle. When I direct them to the White House's comment line e-mail address and give them the mailing address, they're somehow completely silenced.

I gather that growing adolescents go through a phase and once they get that computer which gives their "voice" a chance to be heard around the world, it's like winning the lottery. Some people know how to handle their new-found liberty and power; some people don't and they just go wild.

Notice that with the introduction of the Internet, ANYone and EVERYone who has access to a computer has the ability to express themselves and be "heard" around the globe with no requirements, no qualifications, no experience or pre-requisites of any kind needed. Just open your mouth, click "OK," and demand to be heard.

Well, unfortunately, it's going to get worse before it gets better, I fear. Not everyone who opens his mouth is saying something worth listening to.

Your question is intelligent, well thought-out, and very nicely expressed. Thanks.

Answer 7

Oh there are great turn outs for concerts but the reality of going to a voting booth doesn't happen.

The real cream of today's youth are found in the military they have a far better understanding than those sitting in the basement being trolls on the net.

Answer 8

My sons are both in college, all their acquaintances and them are incredibly recommended, on economic, commerce, outsourcing, reality about guns of mass destruction, and that all of them have pupil loans and do not received't to leave college to compete over $7 an hour jobs to target to pay back their loans starting up 6 months once they graduate. They blame issues on our era because we payed extra interest to homosexuals having abortations and eliminating their guns, than giving businesses tax incentives to deliver our jobs remote places and leaving border open for affordable not ordinary artwork to go back in and reduce or salary scales. they'll easily no longer balloting to stay the route in case you understand what I propose. My oldest son has elected to visit Graduate college hoping for a significant change interior the different route we are headed now. they'll vote for for whoever wins the Democratic Nomination.

Answer 9

They are trying to get the youth to vote so that in the future our elections don't seem like a chore to the future seniors of america.

Answer 10

I don't know who said it, but an old quote is "If you are young and not liberal, you don't have a heart. If you are older and aren't conservative, you don't have a brain."
I think it is a true statement.
If you are a liberal candidate and want to court voters that don't think, but only use emotional reaction as a method of making decisions, you will seek to lower the voting age.

Answer 11

I remember when there were 5 college kids who went to 5 different voting places and voted for Al Gore 5 times each and he still lost. Nope, guess they don't make much difference.