Young Voters Losing Interest

Election Day is closing in and now is the time for Presidential candidates and the media to start to study the polls.

As we near crunch time, the political parties are finding out which groups they need to be reaching out to. At a time like this, ever detail, ever group holds so much weight and could tip the election, which is why it is important to know who the Latino community is leaning towards. Then there is the youth vote.

In 2008, there was the chance to make history with either the first African American or Female President. It was also a sensational year because first-time voters hit the polls, eager to vote. The majority cast their votes in favor of President Obama at a rate of 2:1. It was an exciting election after eight years with George W. Bush.

As President Obama runs for re-election, the important following he had in youth voters is diminishing.

A Pew Research Center poll released Sept. 28, showed that just 63 percent of young registered voters say they will definitely vote this year. That number is down from 72 percent four years ago. For ages 18 to 20, 61 percent were registered in 2008, and this year it is only 50 percent.

Molly Fitzpatrick, the organizing director for New Era Colorado, worked tirelessly on CU Boulder’s campus to make one last push to get college students registered to vote.

“They make me a little nervous of course but I think we’re doing all we can do to change that; Change that conversation and change that direction,” said Fitzpatrick regarding the poll numbers.

While the decline in youth engagement will primarily hurt the President, Republican candidate Mitt Romney will also be affected.

“I just don’t feel like either of them have reached out and made me feel inspired for any of them to lead me,” said Whitney Brennan, a Junior at CU.

When the poll was released, young adults registration rate was at its lowest point in the last five elections. Voter registration closed in Colorado on Tuesday.

As the debates have sparked new media buzz surrounding the election, the candidates may still have a chance to entice some of these dispirited young voters.