Young Voters Disenfranchised and Disheartened
By: Tracy Leatherberry
January 9, 2012 
3 Comments
A Tufts University analysis of voter registration data in key electoral states confirms that young people are less interested in the 2012 presidential election. Surprise!
Key states like North Carolina and Nevada are seeing sharp declines in youth voter registration (ages 18-29). Many would simply brush this off as youthful apathy but with a stubborn Congress and an ethically questionable Supreme Court, this drop in registrants may indicate that young people are fed up.
With high youth unemployment rates, crushing student debt, and corporations paying for legislation that seemingly disadvantages student and threatens their voting rights, Jim Geraghty asks “why would young people be enthusiastic to VOTE for the status quo.”
I wonder the same thing.
Read “Democrats Losing Young Voters in North Carolina, Nevada” (Jim Geraghty, National Review, 12/30/11) »
Thank you Tracy for writing this blog post. As someone on the ground trying to motivate the youth to vote, I’m finding it harder and harder to do. Students just feel out of the loop, and because of this, they feel as if they can’t make a difference. I run counter to the notion that the youth can’t make a difference though, and continue to strive to motivate and empower students. WE must let students know that it’s not just a vote, but a voice.
Thank you Tracy for writing this blog post. As someone on the ground trying to motivate the youth to vote, I’m finding it harder and harder to do. Students just feel out of the loop, and because of this, they feel as if they can’t make a difference. I run counter to the notion that the youth can’t make a difference though, and continue to strive to motivate and empower students. WE must let students know that it’s not just a vote, but a voice.
Thank you Tracy for writing this blog post. As someone on the ground trying to motivate the youth to vote, I’m finding it harder and harder to do. Students just feel out of the loop, and because of this, they feel as if they can’t make a difference. I run counter to the notion that the youth can’t make a difference though, and continue to strive to motivate and empower students. WE must let students know that it’s not just a vote, but a voice.