Studies indicate increase in young voter turnout

Student organizations plan to campaign

By: Austin Schiffman

Posted: 8/20/08

According to voting analysts, Texas youth have election fever.

After collecting data from the 2008 primaries, The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement said the voter turnout rate for young people ages 18 to 29 in Texas nearly tripled from the year 2000, rising from 6 percent to 17 percent of the total voter turnout. The center is a nonpartisan organization at Tufts University that measures youth involvement in civic activities.

In hopes that Texas youth will turn out to vote in record numbers, NT political organizations are preparing for this opportunity.

"The Student Government Association will be promoting civic engagement at all levels from here on campus to the national level," Student Government Association President Jeff Kline said. "We hope students will vote in both campus and national elections this fall."

Kline said the SGA will invite bands and musicians to "Rock the Vote," an event designed to give campus political organizations a chance to inform students about the issues. He said the event will likely take place a week before the presidential election.

Kline said the SGA and the department of political science would also participate in "UNT Gets Presidential," a lecture series hosted by the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. The event will focus on topics such as the war in Iraq, health care, Social Security, immigration and the environment.

Mary Brown, communications director for the College Democrats of North Texas, said her organization would try to recruit students to vote for Sen. Barack Obama for president. She said the College Democrats have several issues that should strike home with students on campus, including making undergraduate and graduate school affordable and providing uninsured Americans with health care.

"We will be holding voter drives to ensure every Democrat on campus is registered to vote," she said.

Brown said the College Democrats would host "Obamanite08" on election night at The Syndicate.

Bryant Surley, North Texas College Republicans Chairman, said his organization is gearing up for an aggressive campaign to ensure that NT students vote Republican. He said his group cannot officially endorse a candidate until the national Republican Party chooses its nominee.

"The North Texas College Republicans have great hopes for Sen. McCain and will use all of its strength to ensure his election in November," he said.

Surley said illegal immigration, the war on terror, energy independence and tax reform are all issues that are important.

Young Americans for Liberty founder Joe McNulty said his organization would serve as the college arm of the Ron Paul campaign. McNulty said his organization is a libertarian group focusing on non-interventionism foreign policy, personal liberty, an independent market and constitutionalism.

"We will promote the idea of a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution," he said.

The national election on Nov. 4 includes president and vice president, U.S. House seats, and in 33 states, including Texas, U.S. Senate elections. There also will be races for statewide and county offices. The election week for the SGA senate and the Homecoming Court, King and Queen begins Oct. 13.