How much can we count on the young vote?

[Silent3]

Please don't come down on me like a ton of brick because I've got a little nervous concern about something. Please? I still feel pretty good about a Kerry victory tomorrow.

But this shook me just a little: I overheard someone here where I work saying that one of the reasons Dean didn't do better in the primaries was that he had a lot of youth support, but not enough of those young supporters came out to the polls when he needed them.

Any truth to this? If it's true, any good arguments why this has changed for Kerry?

Seeing all the young people out doing volunteer work for Kerry here in NH seems to demonstrate that the commitment and the energy are there. Certainly those people standing out on the streets waving signs and going door-to-door canvassing are going to get out and vote.

All I can say is: Damn it, everyone! Get out and vote! Get your friends out to vote (at least your Democratic friends)! ;) Don't anyone go get complacent. Smile like you're 10 points ahead, and fight like you're 10 points behind!

[Confident]

1. Excellent point -- Dean had all the buzz, and

completely collapsed -- it wasn't the scream -- he had all the $ early but "his people" never bothered to vote

[onehandle]

2. More than usual. Enough to win. nt

[truhavoc]

3. The reason Dean lost is due to the media saying that he couldn't win

Kerry was the candidate that could "beat bush" which is why he ended up winning. I think we have our work cut out for us, however my age-group (I'm 23) is more motivated than ever. This is my first general election I will vote in, I tried to vote in 2000 but my registration card never made it. College students like myself have a hard time getting involved because most candiates refuse to acknowledge OUR issues. Also a lot of kids are registered at home and have classes to attend on that tuesday.

[madrchsod]

4. more than bush would like, that is for sure...

colleges are ready to vote for kerry ,many of my daughters friends are voting for kerry...

[Skittles]

5. I'm optimistic this election

the young seem to be quite pumped and I think a lot of them realize how very important this election is to their future.

[Progressive420]

6. Well first I would like to say welcome to DU

then I have to say that I'm sure the youth vote will be higher this year b/c I am a part of the youth vote and I only know one person that is not going to vote this year all of my friends except for one will be voting this year and all of the ones that are voting are voting for Kerry as for the Dean thing I am a youth voter and I voted for Wes Clark I can't speak for all youth but not all of us were supporting Howard Dean.

[fugop]

7. I could be wrong but ...

I imagine that as enthusiastic as people may be over primaries, they don't have the urgency for many people that the actual elections do. I vote in primaries, but I definitely am less determined. I suppose if you're truly devoted to one candidate, you might work harder to get out and vote. But otherwise, it's probably easier to figure you know you're going to vote for the Dem (in this case, perhaps because you're anti-Bush, at that point) whoever it is, so it doesn't matter.

I don't know if this is true, but it's my theory about it.

[Robbien]

8. Ha! It is not just the youth. There are many of us who are dedicated

No more Bush and his BushCo. If the young want to join in, well that's all good.

[Silent3]

9. Actually, worrying about young people getting out to vote...

...is less of a downer than being 42 and realizing that I have to think about "young voters" as a separate group that I'm not in anymore! :o :( ;)

[kokomo]

10. Jeff Greenfield implied Kerry will win IF there is the big turnout.

All of us old dogs who vote in every election including school board and special "drainage district" elections will be there bright and early.

But will first time voter's bother with getting out of the house, getting into traffic, standing in line, especially if there is some nasty weather tomorrow?

If you know any first time voters, you might even consider packing them into your car on your trip to the polls.

Jeff Greenfield said that Republican successes in the past have been due to extraordinary work by volunteers from the national to the precinct level...knocking on doors, hauling folks to the polls.

[Mz Pip]

11. They will vote

Heard this from the parent of a 26 year old who does a lot of traveling. People in his age group are mobilized and ready to go. Some of it is due to the war/draft and some is do to 9/11. Acording to this kid, Kerry will win big time.

MzPip
:dem:

[AnIndependentTexan]

12. I'm 23 and I voted for Kerry already with early voting

I also forced my dad to come to the polls with me. He said that there was plenty of time and I put my foot down saying NOOOOO!!!! I'm voting for John Kerry NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

[merbex]

13. In my little corner of the world, I was actually discouraged for doing

voter registration for 2004 high school grads by my Town Clerk

"You are just making work for yourself, they don't vote" she said That was the beginning of August

Last week's edition of the local paper - she specifically mentioned recent voter reg targeting youth voters that have seen a HUGE upswing in Absentee ballot requests

THEY ARE VOTING

One story in particular,we are in MA and evidently one of those recently reg youth voter we targeted called our local dem town chairman from PENN and said How do I change my reg to PENN, IT MEANS MORE HERE!!

THEY ARE VOTING- WATCH OUT!