From the California Progress Report...
Democrats Making the “Year of the Young Voter” Real in California
By Becca Doten
Political Director
California Young Democrats
This weekend Democrats of all ages converged on the San Jose convention center to listen to speakers and panels, participate in trainings and conduct Party business. Throughout the weekend there was a special buzz of excitement – that of the Young Democrats who were a part of this important convention.
You might have caught us wearing red CYD t-shirts or stickers with the phrase, "Year of the Young Voter" and the Chinese character for young, or seen us at the Assembly District Endorsement Caucuses or on the Convention floor. But no matter where you were, you'd be sure to see these young activists participating and engaging in the process. This year, more than ever, is a year that young people are getting involved in the political process. Not just as voters, but as active members of the Democratic Party.
It's important not to discount how critical it is that we're seeing this increase in young voter turnout and activism for the Democratic Party, because when young voters vote, the chances are they're going to vote for the Democrat – and this cuts across gender and race differences. This can't be said about any other age group. In 2008, 47% of young voters self-identify as Democrats and only 28% self-identify as Republicans – and the 47% who identify as Democrats is up from 40% in 2004, a year that young people ages 18-30 were the only age group to support the Democratic ticket for President.
One just has to look at the Super Tuesday numbers to see the increased impact of young voters on the Democratic Party. Nationally more than three million young voters cast a vote or caucused, with over two million votes cast for a Democratic candidate compared to only 900,000 for Republicans. Additionally, nearly every Super Tuesday state saw a dramatic increase in young voter turnout, with some states seeing turnout triple or even quadruple over past years.
This engagement can be attributed to a couple of factors – the first being the disgust for the current administration and the lack of a national agenda that speaks to our needs. Young people look around and wonder how we're ever going to own a home, worry that the worsening economy is going to mean we won't be able to find a job, and we are forced to go without health care because it's too expensive. And it's young people who have to watch our friends and peers go to Iraq for a senseless war and – if they're lucky enough to come back – many of our generation will spend the rest of their lives with physical or mental injuries because of the war. Seeing how poorly the country is responding to our needs, many young people naturally turn away from the status quo. But turning away is not enough – because young people need to know that there is a Party that we can join that speaks to our issues.
What is so exciting about 2008 is that this year young people have choices that are connecting our generation. The Democratic presidential candidates are speaking to our needs and reaching out to us on the issues that matter. And it's not just lip service or putting up a Facebook page – it's participating in a debate focuses on youth voter issues. It's presenting plans on keeping college costs low. It's talking about universal health coverage and green technology. And it's challenging our generation to step up and invest ourselves in our country and our neighborhoods.
We're seeing that when young people are targeted and brought into the process we will respond – and respond in a big way. And this is the year that we all need to do everything we can to ensure that young voters continue to engage and participate.
We all need to take responsibility to increase youth turnout. The Party establishment needs to respond to the needs of students and young professionals, include our issues in the greater policy agenda and ensure that the campaigns include real resources and organizers focused on young voter turnout. But young people also need to take responsibility for increasing turnout. We need to ensure that our friends, colleagues and peers all know the importance of this election on our futures. We need to take that extra time to get our friends who have voted to come out and work on a campaign and to get our friends who don't vote to go to the polls this year.
So far, 2008 has been the Year of the Young Voter in the primaries – now we all need to commit to continuing the Year of the Young Voter into the general election to ensure that a Democrat is in the White House and we can begin to get our country back on track for people of all ages.
Becca Doten is the Political Director of the California Young Democrats. She is also the President of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats and Co-Founder and Consultant of the Young Progressive Majority.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/04/democrats_makin.html
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Democrats Making the “Year of the Young Voter” Real in California
By Becca Doten
Political Director
California Young Democrats
This weekend Democrats of all ages converged on the San Jose convention center to listen to speakers and panels, participate in trainings and conduct Party business. Throughout the weekend there was a special buzz of excitement – that of the Young Democrats who were a part of this important convention.
You might have caught us wearing red CYD t-shirts or stickers with the phrase, "Year of the Young Voter" and the Chinese character for young, or seen us at the Assembly District Endorsement Caucuses or on the Convention floor. But no matter where you were, you'd be sure to see these young activists participating and engaging in the process. This year, more than ever, is a year that young people are getting involved in the political process. Not just as voters, but as active members of the Democratic Party.
It's important not to discount how critical it is that we're seeing this increase in young voter turnout and activism for the Democratic Party, because when young voters vote, the chances are they're going to vote for the Democrat – and this cuts across gender and race differences. This can't be said about any other age group. In 2008, 47% of young voters self-identify as Democrats and only 28% self-identify as Republicans – and the 47% who identify as Democrats is up from 40% in 2004, a year that young people ages 18-30 were the only age group to support the Democratic ticket for President.
One just has to look at the Super Tuesday numbers to see the increased impact of young voters on the Democratic Party. Nationally more than three million young voters cast a vote or caucused, with over two million votes cast for a Democratic candidate compared to only 900,000 for Republicans. Additionally, nearly every Super Tuesday state saw a dramatic increase in young voter turnout, with some states seeing turnout triple or even quadruple over past years.
This engagement can be attributed to a couple of factors – the first being the disgust for the current administration and the lack of a national agenda that speaks to our needs. Young people look around and wonder how we're ever going to own a home, worry that the worsening economy is going to mean we won't be able to find a job, and we are forced to go without health care because it's too expensive. And it's young people who have to watch our friends and peers go to Iraq for a senseless war and – if they're lucky enough to come back – many of our generation will spend the rest of their lives with physical or mental injuries because of the war. Seeing how poorly the country is responding to our needs, many young people naturally turn away from the status quo. But turning away is not enough – because young people need to know that there is a Party that we can join that speaks to our issues.
What is so exciting about 2008 is that this year young people have choices that are connecting our generation. The Democratic presidential candidates are speaking to our needs and reaching out to us on the issues that matter. And it's not just lip service or putting up a Facebook page – it's participating in a debate focuses on youth voter issues. It's presenting plans on keeping college costs low. It's talking about universal health coverage and green technology. And it's challenging our generation to step up and invest ourselves in our country and our neighborhoods.
We're seeing that when young people are targeted and brought into the process we will respond – and respond in a big way. And this is the year that we all need to do everything we can to ensure that young voters continue to engage and participate.
We all need to take responsibility to increase youth turnout. The Party establishment needs to respond to the needs of students and young professionals, include our issues in the greater policy agenda and ensure that the campaigns include real resources and organizers focused on young voter turnout. But young people also need to take responsibility for increasing turnout. We need to ensure that our friends, colleagues and peers all know the importance of this election on our futures. We need to take that extra time to get our friends who have voted to come out and work on a campaign and to get our friends who don't vote to go to the polls this year.
So far, 2008 has been the Year of the Young Voter in the primaries – now we all need to commit to continuing the Year of the Young Voter into the general election to ensure that a Democrat is in the White House and we can begin to get our country back on track for people of all ages.
Becca Doten is the Political Director of the California Young Democrats. She is also the President of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats and Co-Founder and Consultant of the Young Progressive Majority.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/04/democrats_makin.html
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