Slog - Comments on The Youth Vote

Comment by Original Monique

Original Monique — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:57:15 -0800

I thought it would be a larger gain then that.... :(

but yay! youth vote.

Comment by leek

leek — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:19:28 -0800

But are there more or less young people than there were then?

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:25:26 -0800

The key difference was that white voters went for the Dem more than ever. And so did Hispanics. And so did African Americans.

In fact, it was an American victory - by Americans.

Congrats to the first US President from Hawaii!

Comment by David Wright

David Wright — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:31:21 -0800

Most of the breakdowns by age I have seen put 18-29 in one bin. I love how nowdays one gets to be a "youth" up until an age that one's parents would have finished college, got married, had their first child, and bought their first house.

I'd also be interested to see the change in voter turnout among actual youths, i.e. people aged 18-21.

Comment by F

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:43:45 -0800

Actually, it turns out they didn't turn out that much after all. 18-29 year olds made up 18% of all voters, as compared with 17% in 2004.

Also, the idea that people used to get married earlier is true of our parents, but not of our grandparents. Getting married early was uniquely a 50s-60s phenomenon in the US.

Comment by Greg

Greg — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:33:26 -0800

@5: Not in the South, it wasn't.

Comment by loushka

loushka — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:04:48 -0800

That does it!!! NEVER again will I believe the perennial hype and anecdotal evidence from every election cycle that the the youth vote will come out like never before and be a tidal wave to be reckoned with. If they couldn't make it for THIS, of all elections, they will never come out in more than the pathetic dribble that they did in this one. Hey, I have a great idea!!! Let's pass a constitutional amendment to raise the voting age to 30!!! That will set their pants on fire...

Comment by emma's bee

emma's bee — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:40:51 -0800

Innumeracy sucks. The question is not the numbers of young voters who showed up or the percent of the total population that young voters comprise, but the proportions of young people who are registered to vote and then the proportion of those who actually vote.

Compare these numbers to the same in other election cycles and you'll have your answer.