Native youth voters express interest in electoral process

[nosmokes]

Did y'all catch Sherman Alexie on Colbert last night? It was great. This is such very good news. Heaven knows, I can't think of any group tht we've made it harder on to actually cast a vote, with one poll per res even if the res is larger than many eastern states.
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orinal-ict

Native youth voters express interest in electoral process

Measuring their engagement is problematic

By Rob Capriccioso

Story Published: Oct 29, 2008

Story Updated: Oct 27, 2008
WASHINGTON – At campaign rallies, on Internet message boards and in almost every other avenue available for voter participation, young Indians are out in force this year. They have been present for many an election season, no doubt, but some voting experts and educators say their involvement is being felt more now than at any time in history.

“I think we’re seeing our young people realize it is their turn to step up and take action to be sure the Native voice is heard,” said David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College, adding that many students on his campus have registered to vote and have led or assisted in campaign efforts for various candidates.

“They are not standing in the back of the line, as their parents or grandparents maybe did.”

Gipp’s positive assessment of Native youth participation in the U.S. election process was readily apparent at this year’s Democratic National Convention in Denver, where a bevy of young Indians in their teens, 20s and 30s took on leadership and activist roles. Some worked on the floor of the convention, assisting politicos; others asked probing questions as journalists. A couple participated directly in the delegate voting process.

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complete article here