Rock the Vote

Rock the Vote: "And what an election it was.
Okay, sorry for the radio silence. We're back. Sadly, without our star interns whose writing style kept this blog so enjoyable in the weeks leading up to the election. Aaron, Anna, Alex---we miss you!

So a quick catch-up. We've spent about a month now aggressively refuting the mistaken impression that young people did not show up to vote. As you should know if are on our email list or read our blog, young people turned out in force on November 2. Four million more voted in 2004 than in 2000. It was a huge, historic turnout.

But you wouldn't know it from the news. Early on election night, in a tense news vacuum, a story broke out that the under 30 set 'didn't show up.' A particularly damaging Associated Press story proclaiming that this was not a 'breakout year' for youth voting was quickly picked up--and grossly distorted--by blogs and news outlets nationwide, and has likely rooted in the national consciousness.

Let's review with the facts: According to the University of Maryland's youth voter research institute (CIRCLE), at least 20.9 million 18 to 29-year olds voted on November 2--nearly 4.6 million more than in 2000, when only 16.3 million turned out to vote.

Another way of looking at the same data: in 2004, turnout of eligible young voters increased by 9 percentage points, to 51.6 percent, up from 42.3 percent in 2000. Again, a huge achievement. Internal goals were closer to 3-5 percent at many youth voter organizations, including Rock the Vote.

Youth turnout was particularly pronounced in the battleground states, averaging a 64 percent voter rate. Sixty-four percent! Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, where you can register to vote on Election Day, top the list.

In short, it was a banner year for young voters. They defied all expe"

posted by Stash @ 9:39 AM