Youth Vote Could Set Records This year!

(Gainesville, Florida)

So who says the young don't vote?

Well, truth be told, ever since the Constitution was changed in the early 1970s, and the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, the youth of America have voted in very small numbers. That has always surprised me given the Vietnam and Civil Rights activism, that lead to the change in the first place. The very people who wanted a young age to vote, eventually became the very people who did not exercise that right. Ironic!

Until now!

So far, we have seen record numbers of primary voters this year in the 18 to 24 age group, both male and female.

On the campaign stump in Florida, I decided to return to my old Graduate School campus and find out why?

First stop to today was the WRUF-AM/FM newsroom, where I cut my teeth in the news business 24 years ago. The students (were WE ever that young?) were excited and curious about the election process. The WUFT-TV newsroom, which I used to run and is now in the capable hands of my old dear friend Bridget Grogan, was just as electric. For some reason, in this election, the youth vote may actually matter!

The J. Wayne Reitz Union, across the lawn from the College of Journalism & Communications, was a buzz of political activity.

Political Science major, Frank Bracco, dressed as "Uncle Sam," was recruiting fellow students to vote. Reflecting his college major, Bracco simply said, "I believe in it!"

Electrical Engineering Sophomore Eric Maclean, was no less enthusiastic is his support of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). "He's for limited government," Maclean said, "he's (Paul) for personal freedom, libertarian values, and a free market economy."

Ron Paul has had huge appeal with young voters this year. So too has Sen. Barack Obama, (D-IL). Public Relations major Marcus Dixon, is minoring in Political Science, and he is backing the first serious Black candidate who has challenged for a party nomination. Dixon was trying to sign up fellow supporters today, and admits he was very torn between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, (D-NY), saying they are very close on the issues.

Dixon settled on Obama saying, "He's more of a unifying figure and is inspirational."

It was inspiring to see, no matter what your party stripe. I arrived on the University of Florida campus to work on my Masters Degree in August 1984. Student indifference to the looming election between President Reagan and former Vice-president Walter Mondale was startling. Even races of local interest garnered little student support.

But time changes, and the country does too. As Florida well knows, EVERY vote counts, even those of our youngest voters!

I will be critiquing the CNN Presidential debates in California on 1-30 and 1-31, as we lead up to "Super Tuesday on 2-5. Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com