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Young voter opinion counts By
Rebecca Anderson
Get ready. Get set. Go! The race is on. It has been going on for a while now. Political statements, campaigns signs, and debates about the issues remind Americans that elections are approaching. On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Americans will cast their votes for a new president. But do young voters feel represented by the candidates? George W. Bush and Al Gore are the two main party candidates. Each has unleashed their "secret weapons" -- George P. Bush, 24, and Karenna Gore Schiff, 26, to capture the youth vote. George P. Bush, nephew of George W., said to America's young voters, "If we don't play a part in choosing our country's leaders, we're leaving our future in the hands of others." However, the basic problem is the lack of young voter turnout. For the most part, young adults do care about the election results. "One person doesn't make a difference, but a lot of people can. That's why we need everyone to vote," said Kimberly Ponczoch, 20, from St. George. Kory Godfrey, 21, from Blackfoot, Idaho, commented, "How else are we to know what the majority wants if no one ever expresses their opinions?" Karenna Gore Schiff, daughter of candidate Al Gore, argued for Generation X, "I've heard my peers written off by the pundits as a generation too involved with itself to be bothered with public life. I have learned firsthand how passionate young Americans are about staking their claim to the future." Young adults agree that their futures are being somewhat decided with this vote. Karin Critoria, 21, from Antioch, Calif., said, "It is important to vote so we can shape our futures." Generation X and Y are a significant segment of the voting population. Generation X alone has 10 million more than the baby-boomers, but neither candidate has spoken directly to the youth about the issues that matter to them. In a survey conducted by Campaign Study Group for Medill News Service of 401 Americans 18-24 year-olds, 69 percent agreed with the statement, "Our generation has an important voice but no one seems to hear it." Russ Freyman, a project director at Neglection 2000 (an organization that tries to get young people interested in the political process), said, "Young people tend to get swept up [by politicians] in the way the rest of the nation is looking at things." Julie Cohen, executive director of Youth Vote 2000, calls it a "chicken-and-egg" cycle. "Campaigns don't target youth because they believe that youth won't vote. Youth don't vote because they believe politicians don't listen to them." Generation X is full of enthusiasm for the world. Three-fourths of the respondents in the Medill Service poll said they volunteer for different organizations and groups. The problem isn't apathy of the youth, but neglect of the politician. Young voters care about the future, but the candidates need to address youth concerns and talk to youth candidly about their issues.
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