Youth Vote Today, Majority Vote Tomorrow

[Eming Piansay]

After months and months of working behind the scenes of what seemed like a myth: the youth vote, the driving force of the Presidential election, helped to usher in a new President and different path for the American people.

Since January the media asked the question: Will the youth vote elect the next American President? And on November 4th the answer was loud and clear.

According to CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) the turnout for the youth vote was 3.4 million more than in 2004. Compared to the 19.4 million who voted in 2004, 22.8-23.1 million showed up at the polls on November 4th 2008.

We told you so?

I know for a majority of the campaign the youth vote looked more like boy band groupies with nothing else to occupy our time. But in the long run of things the growth of the youth vote isn’t just a reminder the youth are powerful political ally, but a telling example of the shift in the state of things if the young people who voted continue to actively participate in the political process.

The youth that backed Obama are ultimately going to be the ones making the big decisions in the not too distant future. Seriously, my 5th grade teacher wasn’t kidding when she told us we were the future of America. When we’re passionate about something as the majority of us were in casting our votes for Barack Obama, who is to say the political passion won’t continue to grow after January 20th.

Barack Obama gave the youth vote something to invest in, something to care about. He offered them something that no other politician has done (at least in our generation) the opportunity to take fate into our own hands and craft our country as we see fit.

Our economy is in the drain. We’re inheriting the result of a war that has turned us into one of the more hated around the world.

I think we all know that when Obama becomes President of the United States on January 20th and when the 21st rolls around everything won't be fine. Like he said in his speech the night he won, it may take longer than his term in office to get where we need to be, but we’re at least on the road to get there.


-- Eming Piansay

[Chantel]

Eming - Thanks for the insight! I keep going back to these words in Obama's victory speech " “I promise you, WE AS A PEOPLE will get there...So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.” It's crazy how we live in a "It's all about me" society. But I think many of us are becoming more aware that we have to stand together - help one another out. Jones, I honestly think that our attitudes toward one another need to change. That's what will bring about change in our society and truly make us the UNITED States of America.

[Jones Franzel]

Eming - This is such a thoughtful description of what feels like a profound shift in our entire political reality. One of the biggest questions I have is how youth will stay engaged now that Obama is elected - there was so much excitement, anticipation and WORK that went into the process. How can the Obama administration now continue to inspire, continue to connect to youth? Thanks for all this food for thought!