Youth involvement in election increases this year

Maybe it's because Barack Obama is a young, hip candidate, or because Sarah Palin knows how to relate to the everyday Joe Six-packs.

Either way, the topic of conversation among 18- to 29-year-olds hasn't been Britney Spears' poor attempt at being a mother or Brad and Angelina's pack of children, but rather the presidential election.

At least, so say the pundits, who claim that youth interest in this year's election has reached an all time high. According to an April 2008 poll released by MTV and CBS, 84 percent of young people have paid a lot or some attention to the campaign, up from 58 percent in June 2007.

And Pittsburgh youth, particularly those at the University of Pittsburgh, are not an exception.

"Students both from last spring and in the fall term have demonstrated an active interest in the campaigns," said Gerald Shuster, a professor of political communication at the University of Pittsburgh. "And that's somewhat untypical of past campaigns."

In Oakland, students have been reminded of the election, whether it's through posters announcing debate watch parties or signs reminding them to register to vote.

"I noticed more people wearing pins or whatever for their candidate," said University of Pittsburgh senior Mike Spiegel. He has also noticed a lot of bumper stickers lately.

Pitt senior Kerry Stuparitz has also seen an increase in such memorabilia, specifically T-shirts. She believes that this is evidence that "people are more enthusiastic" about the election since they are willing to publicly endorse a specific candidate.

This trend can be seen nationally as well. According to the MTV and CBS poll, nearly three-fourths of 18- to 29-year-olds say they are registered to vote, and most of those who said they are not planned to register before the 2008 election.

Even for the 2008 primaries, the national youth turnout rate rose from nine percent in 2000 to 17 percent, according to a June survey conducted by The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE.

CIRCLE also concluded that youth participation in battleground states including Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin is higher than in non-battleground states.

Here in Pennsylvania, nearly 90 percent of students have followed the election, according to a Daily Pennsylvania/CBS poll conducted among students at 14 colleges in the key swing state of Pennsylvania in April 2008.

This year, a lot of focus has been put on voters and could be a reason why youth feel more inclined to get involved in this year's election. The Pennsylvania League of Young Voters is one of the many organizations that have focused more on voter engagement and education this year.

Liz Rincon, the executive director of the League, believes that the excitement about this year's election differs from that of past elections.

"The excitement in 04 was more geared around anti-Bush sentiments with the youth movement. This year, it's a completely different feeling with the youth movement. As opposed to an anti-so-and-so sentiment, it's an I'm excited for. Its candidate excitement. It's great. It's more positive," said Ms. Rincon.

According to the spokesman for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Mike Barley, there has been a huge bump in student involvement.

"A lot of people want to be involved in it," said Mr. Barley. "They know that whatever they are doing here, there's a good chance it could be picked up on. It affects the entire nation."

Political organizations on the University of Pittsburgh campus understand this and are reaching out to students to get them more involved in the election.

Volunteering is key for the College Democrats, who hold weekly meetings on Pitt's campus. According to President Lissa Geiger, students involved in the organization volunteer at the Obama office in Oakland, help register other students to vote and participate in group phone banks and canvasses. The organization also shows political films, hosts debate watch parties and holds Students for Barack Obama meetings.

Pitt's College Republicans also stress volunteering. Yet, because the McCain campaign office is located in Greentree, getting to his office isn't always easy, according to President Patrick Graham. Therefore, the organization has arranged carpools to take students to the office and even arranged for a bus to take students to Washington, Pa., for a recent McCain rally. The organization also shows political films and hosts speakers from various campaigns, sometimes even the candidates themselves.

The two organizations have also just participated in a debate centered around the election on Oct. 27.

Through these organizations and the many reminders around campus, students have come to understand that their vote matters in this election and that many of the issues surrounding this election will have a major impact on their future, said Mr. Barley.

"The youth vote is going to be critical to whichever of the two candidates wins Pennsylvania. And likely, it seems to be leaning towards Obama," said Mr. Shuster.