This will be the year that 18-25 year olds surprise us

[merbex]

This is just anectodal evidence;while doing a voter registration drive for my local dem town committee we found that there were already a high percentage of registered 18 year old voters.

The Town Clerk confirmed that it is higher than normal. We thought that we would be stuffing envelopes with voter reg applications and absentee ballot apllications.We found that the majority of kids only needed an absentee ballot application.

This group will surprise us - and I'm hoping that they can be put in our column

[NMDemDist2]

1. they put Clinton over the top in 92 n/t

[LynneSin]

2. MTV is doing a great job of getting out the vote

THey are constantly airing programs related to the "Rock the Vote" agenda. And I have to admit, although they try to keep it non-partisan, you definately see a tilt towards Kerry.

:bounce:

[WI_DEM]

3. people have been saying that for a long time, I hope you're right

[llmart]

4. There are two 18-year old girls that I work with.....

and they are both registered and can't wait to vote for Kerry. I couldn't believe how excited the one was about turning 18 before the election so she could vote. She also told me that neither of her parents have ever voted in their lives - they are afraid they'll get called for jury duty if they do (I debunked that myth to her but she said her parents won't listen to her)and we live in a little, rural community where Repugs dominate. My supervisor said that her two children, 18 and 20 are voting for the first time for Kerry. I sure hope you're correct!

[Eurobabe]

12. my two lovelies, 20 & 22

are rabid KERRY supporters, and don't hesitate to tell their friends why THEY should vote for Kerry/Edwards too. :)

This GenX and GenY'ers ARE going to surprise us! Have faith.

[llmart]

13. Good for them!

And good for you for raising them right:)

My 33-year old son and 29-year old daughter are both voting for Kerry. But they've always voted since they were eligible to vote.

[da_chimperor]

5. As a member of that age group

and a soon to be registered voter (put it in the mail today), I am proud to announce that I'm squarely in your column.

[CitySky]

14. Hooray Ex-Pat!

Way to go. :hi:

Remind everyone who freaks out about the polls that polls do NOT catch those who are voting for the first time.

Saw my supermarket checker again last night. The one who's disappointed that he doesn't turn 18 until LATE November, so he can't vote. But I'm sure he has friends!


-Peace!

[kentuck]

6. Wouldn't that be great !

:)

[Toronto Ron]

7. This is very important

because that age group is the biggest Kerry-voting block. From yesterday's The Economist poll (http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/YouGovJ.pdf):

Kerry leads 53%-40% among 18-24 year olds
Kerry leads 46%-42% among 25-44 year olds
b*sh leads 49%-42% among 45-64 year olds
b*sh leads 52%-41% among 65+ year olds

Interesting mirror image!

[hlthe2b]

8. I surely HOPE so..... We truly need the youth of America...

I'm on the absolute tail end of the Baby Boomer generation and I realize that many of this extended cohort have "sold out." I'm sorry that so many have lost the idealism that carried us through the turbulent 60s but I have to think we have passed the torch and this generation will run with it.

[noamnety]

9. I'm working with high school kids

We're running a voter registration workshop today after school. Please consider adopting a high school and running a voter registration drive there sometime in the next week or so. You might be able to have their student council or honor society sponsor it.

[SEpatriot]

10. Turnout will be crucial

When I was in law school in '92 and volunteering for the Clinton camp, they called all the time making sure we had everything we needed, making sure we turned people out. If you can deliver the 18-25 (even 18-30) vote in this election in a big way, they will kill shrub.

The other thing is that a lot of "big time" pollsters tend to overlook or under represent a lot of 18-21 year olds in their samples for any number of reasons. A lot of these newly registered voters are completely under the radar of all the major polling and news organizations.

[skippysmom]

11. I hope you're right

Especially because polls don't tend to reflect the younger generation -- they're not home as much, are more likely to eschew landline telephones for cell phones, etc. -- and if Kerry's doing well there, these polls that have Bush ahead may be a load of bullshit.

[blue neen]

15. My 21 year old and all of his friends are registered and can't wait

to vote for Kerry. My friend just asked me last night to get some registration forms for her son and his friends (20 year olds).