Declare yourself

by Mike Crowden

For young Americans born between 1983 and 1986, November 2nd will mark the first time they are eligible to vote in a presidential election. Young people's interest in this year's presidential election is at its highest since 1992, according to a poll conducted by MTV and The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE). Eighty-one percent of young registered voters, ages 18-29, say they are paying close attention to the campaign, compared to 85 percent in 1992. But the question remains, "Will young people actually vote?"

A Harvard University study found that 62% of college students say they plan to vote this year. Even more striking, in the MTV and CIRCLE poll, 80% of registered say they definitely plan to vote.

Among those registered voters polled by MTV and CIRCLE, 3 in 4 think that this presidential election is one of the most, or THE most, important election in their lifetime.

In a Pew poll, 53% of registered voters aged18-30 said they'd given "quite a bit of thought" to the election. If the majority of young voters say they given thought to this election, what is the most important issue amongst 18-30 year olds?

It's the economy, stupid. The economy and jobs ranks as the most important issue in young voters' vote for President, according to MTV and CIRCLE. Thirty-five percent of voters polled by MTV and CIRCLE chose the economy and job, 22% said terrorism and national security, 15% chose the war in Iraq, 12% cited education, and 11% said civil liberties and civil rights. Furthermore, according to Harvard University's Institute of Politics, 45% of young voters said the economy will be the most important factor when deciding which candidate to support for President. Interestingly enough, 53% of young voters say the condition of the economy is good, while 46% say the economy is in bad shape, as reported by MTV and CIRCLE.

Though views of the economy are somewhat positive, perception of the country's direction is much more pessimistic, according to MTV and CIRCLE. Nearly six in 10 Americans under the age of 30 believe things have seriously gotten off on the wrong track. If young American's views about the direction of this country are that pessimistic, the first step in changing direction is to vote.

Youth participation on Election Day, though, has dropped by a third since 1972, the first year 18 year-olds were eligible to vote. In presidential years, 18-to-24 year-olds are less than half as likely to vote as their elders are. Why don't Young Americans vote?

Is it because candidates don't address our issues or because Republicans and Democrats are always bickering? Are voting rules confusing? Is it because Election Day isn't a holiday? There's no free stuff? Perhaps it's because we don't have the old-time political religion.

But politics is not our civic religion. Democracy is. And voting is its form of prayer, requiring a certain and determined faith.

On November 2nd, don't become a closet atheist. Vote.