thePULSENovember 2003 – Did you know you and I are part of the “key swing [voting] group of 2004?”
I heard this back in May when I was watching FoxNews while on my coffee break at work. I thought: no way.
Just take a glance at voting statistics and my viewpoint is substantiated. In the last presidential election, only 32% of 18- 24 year olds voted, compared to a national average of about 51% of all voting age persons.
The broadcast I had seen was regarding the Harvard University, Institute of Politics Spring Survey. The Institute interviewed 1,200 college undergraduates by telephone regarding their attitudes related to politics and public service. They identified “Campus Kids” as a solid voting demographic, and concluded that we will be a potent force in the 2004 elections.
Fifty-nine percent of the respondents reported that they will “definately be voting” in the upcoming election, and additional 27% said they “probably will vote.” With nearly 9.5 million 18-24 year olds enrolled in a college or university, these percentages translate to a substantial political force. In 2000, 18-24 year olds accounted for about 10% of the total population, but 18- 24 year old voters only accounted for about 8% of the total number of voters.
However, 59-86% of college and university students translates into 5 to 8 million voters. If voter-turnout for other demographic groups remains the same or decreases, the 18-24 year old voter turnout may not only become proportional to its percentage of the total population, but may exceed it.
Since September 11, students have become and remained engaged (at 61%) in their communities through service and volunteer work. Also students have become increasingly politicized, evidenced by an increase in the last six months in the number of students who “think politics is relevant to their lives” and have participated in a political rally or demonstration.
Students are also better informed than they have been in past years, with 85% following current events and over a quarter of these students following “very closely.” Student knowledge, politicization, and engagement translates into student activism. Not only are students a potential body of support at the polls, but also a largely untapped well of energy and support for campaigns. Some Democratic hopefuls and President Bush have begun student campaigns on college campuses across the country in an effort to garner youth support early on.
The Harvard Study debunked three myths about 18- 24 year old voters: (1) we don’t vote; (2) we’re not engaged and; (3) we’re all democrats. Since 9/11, as the above data proves, college students are more likely to vote, have become more aware of current events and political issues and are engaged in their communities and political action.
But are we all Democrats?
In past years, Republican candidates have largely counted our vote out, while Democratic candidates have relied on it. Thus, little campaigning was done to target our age range by either candidate. However, we are not all Democrats or liberals, according to the Harvard Study. In general, 4% more students are liberal (36%) than conservative (32%), with 29% moderate. On economic issues, students are largely moderate to conservative. On the other hand, students lean liberal to moderate on social issues.
The Harvard Study reports that another reason “college students today define the “Swing Voter” is their desire to not be placed into any one category.” This is further shown by party affiliation: 41% of college students are registered as unaffiliated or independent — 12% and 16% more than are registered as Democrats and Republicans, respectively.
If our “potent political force” is to be tapped by either Bush or the Democratic hopeful, the study and political pundits argue that both will have to address student-raised issues in a meaningful way, as well as mobilize the student vote in 2004.
President Bush had a 2 to 1 approval rating among college students in April. However, that same month, students were split, with one third saying they would vote for Bush and one-third for the Democratic candidate. Among students, Bush cannot ride his wave of popularity and must as said above, campaign to “college kids.” This may be largely due to our pessimism regarding the job market and, although we support the war by 2 to 1, our concern regarding the direction of the war.
So, what about Worcester?
In Worcester, as reported by the Telegram & Gazette (9/ 4/ 03), students are more liberal and more likely to vote Democratic than the nation as a whole. In interviews with students at Clark University, Worcester State and Assumption, the T&G reported that the students they interviewed would vote in 2004 and the majority would vote Democratic. However, a number of the students cited general political apathy among the student body and low political activity.
Despite student run campaigns for candidates across the country and despite Massachusetts hosting the Democratic Convention in July, Worcester has had no visible student activism or campaigning.
