Young people poised to be political force in 2018

[struggle4progress]

By KENDALL KARSON
Oct 25, 2018, 4:12 AM ET

... Young people could be a gold mine for candidates seeking to court voters in the final stretch of the 2018 election cycle, since they now make up the largest share of the electorate, according to Pew Research Center. But while they surpass the baby boomer generation in numbers, young people don't show up at the polls.

The 2014 midterms saw historically low turnout across the board, but among the youngest generations, turnout was particularly disappointing. Young people accounted for 53 percent of eligible voters but cast only 36 million votes — 21 million fewer than the boomer, silent and greatest generations, according to Pew.

But this year is different.

This year has given rise to an insurgency of youth activism, triggered by a group of savvy high schoolers from Parkland, Florida, who captivated the nation in the wake of a tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. The current crop of vocal teens showed the potential of young people to reanimate politics and reinvigorate a culture war over gun violence to drive voters to the polls ...

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/young-people-poised-political-force-polls-2018/story?id=58674345

[nycbos]

1. I'll believe it when I see it.

As a young person I have NEVER had any reason to see any optimism for my generation.


The MSD students are an exception not the rule.

[UniteFightBack]

4. This. Every young person I've talked to personally could not give a fraction of shit. Which is

pretty normal I suppose, because I was not following politics much as a youngster. But I always voted. And if this shit was happening in my youth...I'm sure I would of been more involved...THIS INSANITY would of certainly gotten me out for a mid term. We cannot depend on them period.

[violetpastille]

2. Gen Z Kids are Different

The oldest of them are only about 24 though.

We shall see.

[JenniferJuniper]

3. Gee, when have I heard that before?

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Prove it. People talk about this all of the time. It's time that these kids prove it. Not just...

to me but the whole country too. Stop listening to the music or playing games for a few minutes and go vote (or do it while in line). There's no excuse to skip voting. None.

[randr]

6. In Colorado we have an Amendment to vote on that lowers the age

for people to hold office from 25 to 21. Argument is that if we empower younger people they will show up to vote.
I am torn; if enough young people want to be empowered to hold office they will vote this Amendment in themselves if large numbers of them show up.
If they do not show up to approve the Amendment they do not deserve the benefits of serving at a younger age, imho, so I am considering not voting for it.
All they have to do is show up in numbers above 75% and they would rule the world.

[BigmanPigman]

7. There is no excuse for apathy!

Age, gender, income, education, religion, health, etc. are not excuses to not give a shot about voting as far as I am concerned. Too bad I will have to suffer due to the apathy of non-voters.

[nocoincidences]

8. I have been doing calling for the Democratic party locally.

I have called enough people to have a small sense of patterns.

What I have noticed is that the women, and especially the older women, are very strongly democratic.

Most of the folks who have seemed to be younger either hang up, or don't know who they are going to vote for/if they are going to vote.

I know it is a small sample, so I wouldn't begin to generalize to the general population.

Just sayin', that's been my personal experience.

Older women are gung-ho Democratic, I mean very emotionally invested. A few older men, usually married to the strong women, are also that way.

They give me hope.

[Caliman73]

9. I hope so. It would be good for younger people to get involved.

Unfortunately, this has been said before. I remember in history that there were hundreds of thousands of young White people and people of color who would be protesting in the streets and were super active but then Richard Nixon spanked Humphrey. I know that the assassination or Robert Kennedy sapped a lot of the enthusiasm, but still, Nixon? Since that election, young people haven't played any kind of major role in elections.

I truly hope that Trump's unique awfulness is a motivating factor for young people to really come out and vote.