Turning out the youth vote
Election Alliance works to register college voters in time for election day
Jennifer Dennard
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: News/Features
Young adults aged 18 to 24 are consistently underrepresented in voting populations. Only once since 1972 have more than fifty percent of youths voted in a presidential election. Still, some groups are saying that this year is going to be different. CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, has released several reports measuring the youth vote in various presidential and congressional elections. According to them, the 2000 presidential primaries had only a nine percent turnout from voters under the age of 30, but the 2008 primaries saw nearly double that. For the past three election cycles, there has been an increase in the number of voters aged 18 to 24. Such increases have not occurred in almost 40 years. Now, as we look towards Election Day in November, we can be hopeful that even more youth will turn out.
In 2004, 47 percent of those aged 18 to 24 voted. While this might seem high, compare it to the 66 percent of voters 25 and over that turned out. Why is it that many of us don't have jobs and can get to the polls easily, but we don't vote in an election that decides the leader of our country?
One group determined to make sure Vanderbilt students vote is Election Alliance. This organization is a nonpartisan group dedicated to registering and educating voters. Election Alliance was only started last year, but has lofty goals. It works in close partnership with the Office of Active Citizenship and Service to register as many voters as possible before the November election.
According to a poll conducted online by Election Alliance, about ninety percent of Vanderbilt students were registered to vote as of spring 2008. However, Election Alliance is urging students to change their registrations to Tennessee. In the poll, 20 percent of students said they were registered here in Davidson Country, and another 11 percent said they would consider switching their registration to Davidson. Election Alliance favors voting in Nashville for several reasons. First, absentee ballots involve a lot of work and can be very confusing-two factors that can discourage people from casting their votes. Second, Vanderbilt students actually live in Tennessee for the majority of year. Finally, getting to the polls will be simple. Election Alliance will be providing shuttles all day on Election Day to our local polling station.
In 2004, 47 percent of those aged 18 to 24 voted. While this might seem high, compare it to the 66 percent of voters 25 and over that turned out. Why is it that many of us don't have jobs and can get to the polls easily, but we don't vote in an election that decides the leader of our country?
One group determined to make sure Vanderbilt students vote is Election Alliance. This organization is a nonpartisan group dedicated to registering and educating voters. Election Alliance was only started last year, but has lofty goals. It works in close partnership with the Office of Active Citizenship and Service to register as many voters as possible before the November election.
According to a poll conducted online by Election Alliance, about ninety percent of Vanderbilt students were registered to vote as of spring 2008. However, Election Alliance is urging students to change their registrations to Tennessee. In the poll, 20 percent of students said they were registered here in Davidson Country, and another 11 percent said they would consider switching their registration to Davidson. Election Alliance favors voting in Nashville for several reasons. First, absentee ballots involve a lot of work and can be very confusing-two factors that can discourage people from casting their votes. Second, Vanderbilt students actually live in Tennessee for the majority of year. Finally, getting to the polls will be simple. Election Alliance will be providing shuttles all day on Election Day to our local polling station.
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