kirk2spock
Rookie
- Nov 14, 2010
- 5
- 0
- 1
Voters under the age of 30 have notoriously been one of the hardest groups of people to get to exercise their right to vote. In the recent 2010 mid-term elections an estimated 18% of eligible voters under the age of 30 voted, a very low turnout number but one that is considered normal by many politicians and government organizations. In addition 1 million fewer voters under 30 turned up when compared to the 2006 elections.
As a young adult under 30 myself who voted in the recent elections I find this a very disappointing turnout. It seems to me that voters under 30 are a largely untapped reservoir of political potential for any candidate or party that is willing to devise a strategy to encourage young adults to vote and care about the nature and direction of their government. The generational and cultural gap between young adults and the majority of individuals running for office today needs to be bridged so that voters under 30 feel engaged in their government and the decisions it makes. While I understand the traditional reasons that this demographic group has not been exploited - namely the seeming unreliability of young voters to turn up at elections, their lack of knowledge of current political conditions in the nation, and their lack of motivation to vote I do not believe that they are insurmountable issues as many politicians and political organizations have labeled them.
To that end, I am curious to know what you think may be ways to mobilize this treasure trove of political power in the future? How can the gulf be bridged and young adults become interested and involved in their government?
As a young adult under 30 myself who voted in the recent elections I find this a very disappointing turnout. It seems to me that voters under 30 are a largely untapped reservoir of political potential for any candidate or party that is willing to devise a strategy to encourage young adults to vote and care about the nature and direction of their government. The generational and cultural gap between young adults and the majority of individuals running for office today needs to be bridged so that voters under 30 feel engaged in their government and the decisions it makes. While I understand the traditional reasons that this demographic group has not been exploited - namely the seeming unreliability of young voters to turn up at elections, their lack of knowledge of current political conditions in the nation, and their lack of motivation to vote I do not believe that they are insurmountable issues as many politicians and political organizations have labeled them.
To that end, I am curious to know what you think may be ways to mobilize this treasure trove of political power in the future? How can the gulf be bridged and young adults become interested and involved in their government?