Straight off the bat, I am a young Voter. This is the first Year I will vote in a Presidential election, in 2006 was my first time voting. I am a registered Independent, but still fiercely Liberal. I’ve decided that I would rather hold respect and loyalty to my beliefs than to my party. But that aside, I’ve always heard a lot about “Young Voters”, that weird group of people who don’t get polled, who don’t show up, and can be the single most important thing to sway an election. Or so I’ve been led to believe.

I’d like to dispel some Myths about the young voter. And maybe shed some light on the Issues a majority of us look to.



Myth #1: Young Voters are apathetic.

Not true. Most Young Voters have a lot on their mind, like College, work, social life, love life. We’re a bit A.D.D. It’s not that we don’t care enough to go out and vote. In our lives we can only catch snippets from the newspaper, radio, or T.V. (When we’re flipping through channels). We see a process that is freakishly complex, wildly distorted, and extremely unappealing. Think of it like coffee. Certainly the first time you had it. Remember, it’s bitter, doesn’t taste good, all that. But the more you get into it, the more you come to understand and enjoy it. As someone with so little time, and so much to do, our attention can’t be given to take in what is that strange unnerving creature that is elections and understand it. Remember, Young people don’t vote, but older people do? So what does that say? That over time as the young people get older, they learn more and become more comfortable with the process.


Myth #2: Young Voters are stupid.

Okay, I’ve heard this a lot, and I’m getting quite annoyed at a 50 year old guy, (Almost always a guy) who didn’t go to college and his only reference is movies like Animal House or Revenge of the Nerds , saying that all college kids do is drink and party. I’ve heard comments that young people shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions that affect the rest of the country, for very much the reason that we are “stupid.” That is quite demeaning. Most of us actually do school work, and are reasonably intelligent human beings. We can form opinions and think for ourselves.

Myth #3: Youth Vote doesn’t Matter.

Far from true “my friends”. (To borrow from John McCain) Roughly 20% of “Young Voters” turned out in the most recent national elections. And with the margin of victory in the 2004 election so low, the Youth Vote could have made all the difference. So in an election year that is so close, so they say, Youth Vote will matter. Of course, it will be very hard to get the young voters. You’d have to inspire them in a process that is foreign and, frankly, scary to them. You have to give them reason to stop and pay attention. This year, it’s become clear that the youth are stopping and paying attention. This is an election that matters more to them to just about any other segment of the population. This is an election that will determine their future. So, tell me that the Youth Vote doesn’t matter.




Not as impressive a list as I thought when I started, but those seem to be the two biggest Myths I can find about Young Voters. I’m willing to address any other Myths you may have about the Young Voter. Maybe later I'll talk about the reasons I am supporting Obama.