17 Year Olds Voting????

Posted by susan on Thursday, January 10

Do you know any 17 year olds who will be 18 by the 4th of November?   If so, make sure they're aware that Virginia law permits them to register in advance and vote in any intervening primary or special election.   Of course they don't have much time to make that happen if they want to vote in the February 12th presidential primary.   The deadline for registering to vote in this primary is 5PM this coming Monday, January 14th.   Anyone wishing to print up an application on their own printer can do so here.

David Hardt, the President of Young Democrats of America, sent out an exciting email yesterday.  In it he says "What we are hearing about the involvement of young voters in the New Hampshire Primary is mind blowing.  Voters between the age of 18-29 made up 18 percent of the electorate (which is 5% more than voters over 65),  and cast twice as many votes as they did in 2004."  These amazing numbers come on the heels of an incredible showing by young people at the Iowa caucuses.  There can be no doubt that young people are making their voices heard in this nomination process. 

From the YDA website: "In 2004, young people turned out in record numbers and turned out for Democrats, as they only age group to support the Democratic ticket. In the 2006 election, voters ages 18-29 made up 21% of the electorate (41.9 million) and supported Democratic candidates by an impressive 58 percent – six points higher than voters as a whole. This same age group was the only age group that Democrats won in the 2004 election. " 

All of this bodes extremely well for the Democratic Party.   As Chairman Dean reminds us, if we get new voters to vote Democratic three times in a row, chances are we'll have them for life.  So let's get one of those three times under our belts early this year and urge young Virginians to vote on February 12th.   Now is THEIR time, so now is OUR time. 

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