CURRENT AGE: 18
POLITICALLY ENERGIZED YOUTH, BUT WILL THEY VOTE
Throughout the presidential election season, Barack Obama has been cited for his success in energizing young people, engaging them in the civic process as never before.
Across the country, youth who can’t even vote are turning out to work on the campaign trail or canvass for votes on college campuses with organizations such as Students for Barack Obama.
Obama has galvanized a youth effort that seems to have resulted in increased youth participation in the primaries. But does widespread popularity among youth translate to more votes come election time?
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa knows firsthand that the support of youth does not always lead to success at the polls.
“The first time I ran in 1994 [for the California State Assembly], I had an outpouring of young people supporting my candidacy that frankly was inspiring,” the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles said.
“In my 2001 campaign for mayor, I won the youth vote in overwhelming numbers, but lost the election.
"I won the kids but I didn’t win their grandparents.”
However, youth can help a candidate, even though their support may not equate to votes on Election Day.
“I can tell you young people are the key,” Villaraigosa said. “Getting young people involved in the process is so important. Oftentimes in politics we see that people get cynical over time.
"They get older, they’ve failed, they think they can’t make a difference. …Young people have hope and optimism, the sense of the possible, which is so important.”
Since Villaraigosa won the mayor’s office in 2005, he has worked on reducing youth-related gang violence and reforming the Los Angeles school system.
Obama’s campaign has benefited immeasurably by the support of youth volunteers. Not only have they physically helped with the chores of campaigning, they have had an energizing effect on his candidacy as well. Whether that will result in his success in November is impossible to say.
However, this election has created a new platform for young people. While many of them may not be able to vote, their enthusiasm often can be contagious to those who can.