Attract Young Voters Based on Their Interests

Eighteen- to 29-year-olds are a hot commodity? They are for this year’s presidential candidates.

But who can blame the politicians? In the 1998 midterm election, the voting turnout for the 18-29-year-old bracket was only 28%, according to Voter News Service.

A big increase in any presidential candidate’s favor would be a huge steal. Especially since all he may think he really needs to do is smile on David Letterman or have a famous rock band play outside a convention.

Politicians are going to great lengths to bait the young voters. Their good-looking children and nephews, the mini Bushes and Gores, are practically overshadowing the candidates.

I consider myself the average young-American, adult voter. I’m a student in college, a part-time jobholder and a comfortable child from a working middle-class family.

I’ve dabbled in the Model United Nations program and stayed awake long enough in my government course during senior year to confidently agree that I’ve got a decent grasp on the upcoming political election.

A bit shaky on the issues at hand, however, I decided to consult the Gore and Bush official Web sites.

As a virgin voter, I’m in limbo about which political party I will--and for the rest of my life--support. Therefore, I want facts.

The Internet is obviously the primary information hub for young-adult voters, for not all of us have the time or the desire to take notes at a Young Republicans meeting and march in the name of a free Tibet.

I picked through the Bush Web site first, discovering a link to a student page and becoming eager to make some sense out of the articles.

I am no political guru. George W. Bush must not recognize that most of the young voters who will click on his Web site aren’t political gurus either. Sure, I’m in college, but what would tax relief for college students entail? Where is the Internet link that will help me to understand what this has to do with me?

The remainder of this sparse student outreach page mostly consisted of a newsletter contact area for those who support Bush, as well as some addresses for student Republican organizations.

Since I haven’t even decided whether Bush is the right guy for me, the rest of the site is really of no good use.

I did happen to check over to the “Youth Zone,” a pitiful attempt at exposing grade-school children to the mechanics of politics. The “Ernie the Cat” story about a cat stuck in a tree made me ashamed that this corny man is running.

Memo to Bush: Children are terribly bright and can smell a phony from a mile away. He isn’t doing a good job of luring me in: He’s lost my interest and possibly my vote.

Al Gore’s official Web page is much more youth-friendly, especially with the focus on his brilliant idea of “At The Table Discussions,” a concept centered around youth issues headed by his daughter, Karenna Gore Shiff.

These consist of college-tour lectures as well as intimate chats with students about the power of their vote on America, and the specific issues that directly affect their lives.

I discovered a Town Hall link, a huge message board for inquiring minds, which proved to be very useful, answering many of my questions regarding Democratic views and signed by Gore (though I doubt he answers the questions personally).

I like the Web site. Good job, Gore; you’ve enticed a young person.

The activity from the college level regarding the upcoming election is relatively quiet, although students will protest at the presidential debate held at the University of Massachusetts in Boston on Tuesday.

Students’ main concerns about the debate involve the corporations that will sponsor it.

They continue to demand a student voice at the debate. For example, a yearlong Third Millennium study polled registered voters asking them if young adults should be the focus of one of the three official presidential debates. It is no surprise that 77% of those polled completely agreed.

You’d think that a politician would realize that the smartest way to get the 18-29-year-old vote would be to give these voters what they want.

Give them a student political debate. Let them ask questions. Encourage them to challenge existing ideas. Allow them to demand stricter environmental laws and multinational corporation inspections.

How about working with them to propose new laws and positions on issues?

Gore is somewhat on the right track with his round-table discussions and sending his daughter over to the colleges in order to convince the fraternity brothers to vote for Daddy.

But as for Bush? His Web site is horrendously inadequate. If he wants to win, he has to offer us a little bit more than Ernie the Cat stories.