For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2007
Contact:
Sujatha Jahagirdar, (323) 309 6120
(cell)
Surge in youth vote continues despite
uncontested Democratic primary
Young Voter Turnout More Than
Triples in Sunshine State
Youth vote surges seen in Iowa, New
Hampshire and South Carolina continued into the Sunshine State last night, with
young voter turnout more than tripling over 2000 levels.
“From Des Moines to Columbia, Manchester
to Tampa, the voice of young voters is echoing across the country,” said Sujatha
Jahagirdar, Program Director with Florida PIRG
and the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project.
Number of Primary Participants
Aged 18-29*
Democrats
Republican
2008
151,595 134,425
2000
38,639 41,970
Source: 2008 figures from CNN.com
exit polls, turnout data; 2000 figures from Federal Election Commission turnout
data, CNN.com exit polls
Increased youth turnout seen this election season is in
part attributed to efforts by youth organizers to convince presidential
candidates to engage young people directly in the issues we care about.
Since the spring of 2007, young volunteers with the
What’s Your Plan? campaign in Florida and across the nation have
been reaching out to all the Presidential candidates to convince the contenders
to engage young people directly in the issues we care about. In November,
15,000 young voters –including young Floridians – signed a petition to the
candidates asking, What’s Your Plan? To
address financial security for all Americans; To stop global warming; To make a
college education affordable; To provide effective affordable healthcare.
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