Young people have three words for those who didn't expect them to show up at the polls last year: Told you so.
Political analysts expected record turnouts across the country, and their predictions came true nationally and locally.
In Augusta, nearly 9,000 voters 18 to 24 cast ballots on Election Day, a 39 percent increase from 2004's presidential election. This group comprised 9 percent of all Richmond County voters, up from 3 percent in the 2004 general election. Statewide, more than 373,000 of the 3.9 million Georgians who voted were in that age bracket, a 34 percent jump from 2004. The local numbers parallel the increase in the youth vote nationally, said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections.
"This is the most people we've seen vote across the board," she said. "So much of it has to do with how candidates inspire voters."
An estimated 23 million Americans under 30 voted, a 17 percent increase over 2004, according to exit polls conducted by American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate.
Najhee Jackson, the president of the Young Democrats of Augusta State University, said most young people were inspired by and could relate to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The 21-year-old sophomore spent most of last year registering young people and organizing political events at ASU.
"This was the first time we were really engaged by a political campaign," he said. "I think that made it easier for me to get other students involved."
The Obama campaign reached out to young voters using text messaging and social networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace, Mr. Jackson said. The administration can expand this support base if it continues to engage young people, he said.
Though young voters have been galvanized, it's hard to determine whether the 2012 election will see a similar increase, said Ralph Walker, the director of the Augusta State Research Center. The turnout will be determined by what's happening in the country at that time, he said.
"With the economy like it is, if it doesn't turn around and we're still in two wars, we'll see a great turnout again," Dr. Walker said.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
VOTING BY THE NUMBERS
The number and percent of voters ages 18-24 in area counties and in Georgia rose in the November election.
| Number of voters | Percent increase | |
| Richmond Co. | 8,810 | 39 |
| Columbia Co. | 4,994 | 22 |
| Georgia | 373,633 | 34 |
Source: Georgia Secretary of State
Comments
Facebook, MySpace, text messaging , MTV, CNN and the Comedy Network. The marketing strategy was brilliant. The young, easily influenced and uninformed actually showed up at the polls and made the difference. While the difference was slight in each area, the slight difference was in most areas. Unfortunately for the Repubs, neither knowledge or employment isn't a requirement for voting. Our current administration reflects that. Stand by for a challenging four years.
It will not take long for them to find out? In the end, goverment is the goverment & they all take, with very little in return.
Unfortunately these young ones are going to have to be mature enough to say "Sorry We made a huge mistake"...This is not fun and games...It is life and death of a nation that is at stake...
Why do you expect them to be " Mature" but some of you are not? Everyday whining about the same thing.
We are so proud that so many young people were able to look at all the issues, make an informed decision and cast their votes. This is surely what the founding fathers had in mind when they looked into the future and saw how the mass media would one day be able to inform on a large scale. Thank goodness for new technology. Now. HELLO! HELLO! HELLO
Don't assume that all young people voted for Obama. Generalizing is ignornace in itself. In fact, I know of several young people who voted for McCain. But the young people who voted for Obama can still say "I told you so" because Obama won and McCain didn't. McCain voters could say "I told you so" if Obama does a worse job than Bush, but then who could assume McCain would have done a better job--after all, he's not in office, therefore it would be ignorance to assume he would have done a better job.
Lets see old white man vs young black man for president. I don't think the decision was hard at all for young people. Quite easy for those 18-30 range.
I think we are already experiencing Obama's lack of experience. I hope and pray he does not learn from his mistakes. Obama is a socialist and I want his policies to fail. The young folk that voted for him are mindless and it is what I expected.
Maybe you should try praying you reach a ripe old age little ones...One day you shall be as I am as I was told when I was your ages...Still and all to someone you either too old or too young or just plain out light in the mental department so that your easily led...:-)
You know the ole saying about young/liberal and old/conservative.
I am grateful that my generation didn't make the same mistakes as our parents did in November 1988.
Pres Obama will succeed. He's already doing better than ex-Pres Bush and the cons did in eight whole years.
christian134... blah blah blah, blah blah blah, what the hell are you talking about. "Willy"town (sounds a bit fruity) Obama hasn't succeeded at anything yet (not saying he won't). All he has done so far is get screwed by democrats. Maybe before he tries to shove another huge Porkulous bill down our throat he will take the time to actually read it! I think this man is incompetent, a puppet, or plain ole lazy. He is so caught up in his celebrity status I guess no one told him that now we actually expect something from him other than flowery speeches. Again, I want him to fail! I’ll give him about as much respect as maggots like you gave to Bush. You’re “kind” wanted to destroy the office of the presidency, well you did it, and I hope and yes “pray” that Obama policies fail!!!
Dang ya'll are some haters!!!!!! For lack of better words. Just simply pathetic. You just can't get over the fact that Obama is president. You would rather have someone who looks like you!! Well NEWS FLASH MY PRESIDENT LOOKS LIKE ME AND IM HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait until all these young voters are middle aged and their marginal tax rate is 88%. WHo do you think is on the hook for the 1 trillion that the government is printing? Work harder, I plan on being a very expensive senior citizen. My working days are numbered and after being a productive member of the community, paying in more than I ever received I'm gearing up to Take, TAke, TAKe, TAKE. From You.
My word you are quite silly person WhiteScorpion...Well bless my soul you can talk up a storm when you want....Go for it...Now tell it to someone who really cares and is literally sitting on pins and needles for your next sentence...:-)As far as Obama goes he just is...Been through Presidents good and bad...Of course some worse than others but to date only Obama rates up there with the worst of the worst...Now to be fair Carter was almost as bad not quite...
christian134, it is you who are "light in the mental department". You're saying that Obama is up there with the worst of the worst in presidents, and he's been in office for 17 days? You've lost your bloody mind, if you ever had one. I, for one, am gratified by the young people's vote (including my 19 y.o. daughter and her college friends). My husband and I, my two sisters and brothers-in-law, my sister and mother-in-law--all white, over 45, and not taking a penny from any government agency, except for Medicare, in the case of the two 80+ grandmothers--voted for Obama. PT maintains that we're all "uninformed" and easily influenced. Sod off.
You are trying to impress whom with your geneology midwesterntransplant?...:-) Slow down friend or your going to pull a muscle or two in the fingers department...Oh my but your sensitive when it comes to dear Pres. O are you not?...Seriously he is bordering on treason if not already a candidate when he pushed for all charges to be dropped and the terrorists who have been held in connection with the Cole bombing sent home...When this nation is harmed that man will be or should be held responsible...So much for "light"...
has someone told patriciathomas to get a life? first one to post a comment, at 3 in the morning? sounds like YOU don't have a job. I was one of those proud young voters. And i made an INFORMED decision... the CORRECT choice. Now can we stop focusing on the past election and focus on a POSITIVE next four years? THANKS
regiznawz, good for you. Better work real hard now. Paying for the healthcare, education, and expenses of a do nothing bunch of bums and the retirement of all the baby boomers is going to be real expensive. But, hey, we are getting ready to add another $1B in debt for us old guys that YOU can pay off for us. In case I never get the chance to tell you, THANKS.
Some improvement I believe we have here folks...At least this voter for Obama knows the term of a President is 4 years as opposed to so many who seem to believe it to be 8...:-)
I'll be impressed when they show up for the rest of the elections as well.
NEWS FLASH, Approving or disapproving of someone based on their skin color is called racism and is bad when white people do it. When people of color do it, its ok?
Hey, E2432--black people vote for the Democratic presidential candidate something like 95% of the time (so happens, the candidate has been white until now). With Obama, it was something like 98%. And you're accusing black people of being racist based on 3%??? A far higher percentage of white people in the South DIDN'T vote for him because of his skin color (look at the survey data). So your "argument" is baseless, as well as base.
First of all, this article is about voter turnout in Georgia- correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't McCain win GA? Second of all- why is it that just because I am young, it is assumed I voted for Obama when in fact, most of the people I know were McCain supporters. I know my generation has made their mistakes...but come on, your generation is FAR from perfect- not that I'm saying Obama is a mistake. He is my president now and as an American I will stand behind him- IF HE FAILS, WE ALL FAIL, so why would you want your country to fail? He may not be my personal choice, but he is my president whether I like it or not, and I will support him.
midwesterntransplant, If you're not careful you're going to be accused of thinking. You're supposed to be listening to these "Stepford Wives" and think that everything was perfect before January 20th. It is so refreshing to listen to a President string multiple sentences together while conveying coherent plans. I had almost forgotten what it was like.
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