2008: Youth Voter Turnout Soars

For years, we’ve been talking about the power of peer to peer student electoral organizing and the potential of young people to shape our country’s political future. Finally the media and political establishment is taking some serious notice of young voters. And it’s all because we’ve built a youth voting bloc and have taken it to the polls. Repeatedly.

The dramatic increases in the youth vote in the caucuses and primaries so far this election cycle is astounding. In the Iowa caucuses, the youth turnout rate rose to 13 percent in 2008 from 4 percent in 2004 and 3 percent in 2000, according to CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). In New Hampshire, the youth vote soared to 43 percent, up from 28 percent in 2000. In fact, 18-29 year old voters made up a larger share (18%) of New Hampshire’s Democratic primary vote than either 30-39 year olds (15%) or 65 and over voters (13%) did, according to CNN. This staggering increase in the youth vote is in line with recent trends in youth voter turnout in the last major election cycles. In 2004 youth voting surged by 11% and in 2006 two million more young people voted in that election than they did in the previous midterm election.  

With the youth voter turnout we’ve seen this primary season, there is reason to be hopeful that the 2008 election will be the third consecutive major election in a row with strong young voter turnout. Of course, we can’t assume it’s inevitable. If it happens it will be the result of all of our hard work on our campuses. Vote coalition by vote coalition we will turn out more students than have ever been turned out before!

Building Diverse Student Vote Coalitions

Do Something Bigger — in forming a coalition, you can accomplish more than you could alone. Doing large-scale voter registration and GOTV activities is a tremendous task. To do it well, we need to form strong campus vote coalitions. 

Increase Power — a coalition earns more respect and has more power than a single group. The university administration will take notice when the black student union and the environmentalists team up to do vote work.  

Increase Resources — each group offers something and together it’s a lot. 

Broaden the Scope of the Work — through vote coalitions, you can involve groups that have never gotten involved in the political process before. Also, by creating a diverse vote coalitions, you can talk about issues that you wouldn’t have included before and broaden your audience.

Diversify -- different backgrounds and viewpoints bring in new ideas for organizing. Plus, people are more likely to register and vote if a friendly face asks them. The best way to engage students from all communities on your campus is to create a coalition made up of student leaders from different student organizations and groups.   

Institutionalization: How to Make Sure Your Vote Work Lasts Longer Than You Do 

Tons of campuses have run amazing vote drives, but with the high turnover rate of students, often the knowledge and the students themselves are gone by the next election cycle and other students have to reinvent the wheel. That slows the student vote movement down and keeps us from shifting the balance of power. Tried and true methods of directly engaging your fellow students and asking them to vote are the most effective way to increase voter turnout, however, we need to take it to the next level. We need to get our universities to become our partners in this vote work. Imagine what a powerful force youth civic engagement could be if we get our administrations on board. If they provide us with increased funding and access to classrooms, dorms, and both academic and non-academic departments, we can dramatically increase the number of students who register and turn out to vote. Check out our Institutionalization Guide to find out how.

Work for USSA as a Field Organizer in CO, MI, FL, or PA!

Check out the job description and consider applying to work for the nation’s largest and oldest student-run organization.

Electoral Action Trainings

The United States Student Association and Campus Camp Wellstone have teamed up to offer a comprehensive training to give students the skills to register, educate and mobilize their campuses for the 2008 election and beyond. With a combination of workshops, exercises, and discussions students will be equipped with tried and true electoral organizing skills (plus creative new tactics) and a sophisticated understanding of student power.  

The EAT trainers are seasoned USSA student organizers and experienced professional Wellstone trainers from around the country who teach by using their own personal organizing experiences.  
 
At the EAT, you will learn how to:

• Increase the number of registered students on your campus
• Increase student voter turnout on your campus
• Develop a strategic plan for your electoral campaign
• Overcome lack of participation on campus
• Develop effective student leaders
• Create a persuasive message
• Build powerful coalitions

Want to know more about the EAT?  Check out a sample agenda or download the EAT brochure. 

2006 Election Results

In 2006, the number of young voters (18-29) increased for the second major election in a row. Ten million young voters cast a ballot. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) estimated that 22% to 24% of young voters voted in 2006 compared to 20% in 2002. Voter turnout rates averaged 46% on 24 selected campuses in six states where USSAF worked, more than double the national average! Together, we registered nearly 44,000 students.  

For more information contact
Rachel Ackoff
Electoral Project Director
vote@usstudents.org
(202) 640-6570