More Youth and First-Time Voters

The mood in the air was that of excitement and anticipation as people all over the nation, especially young and first-time voters, lined up to stamp their ballots and have their voices heard in this year’s presidential election.
“I just recently turned 18 so I am really excited to vote for the president for the first time,” said Niel Mendoza.
“This is my first presidential election,” said Rola Saba, 20, who had just rushed to the polling place after getting off of work and was relieved to learn that they were still open.
Mendoza and Saba were among the population of young voters who particularly took an interest in the campaign and Mendoza said it was because “some of the candidates, Barack Obama, really appeal to a younger generation.”
“Obama understands that young people want to get involved and help make difference and when he speaks he really makes you feel like your voice can be heard,” said Saba.
The message that Obama is sending may not be specifically crafted for a younger more college-aged generation but that is who the message seems to be resonating more with.
Along with this rise in the youth voter turnout there also seems to be a rise in first-time voters who had never seemed compelled to vote until now.
Saba, who has never voted before because of age restrictions, also admitted that she never really took an interest in politics until recently.
“I was always bored with politics until I heard and saw Barack Obama speak; I was mesmerized. His demeanor was so peaceful and I think we need that in our next president,” she said.
Appealing to a younger generation is something that Obama proved works when it comes to being elected the next president of the United States.
This is because he tried to motivate the younger generation by speaking to them about issues that are of concern to them and be making young people feel that their voice can make a difference or change.
Another first-time voter and Obama supporter, Miranda Aguirre, 23, said that she felt compelled to vote in this year’s election because she never felt so strongly about one candidate before.
“When I heard Obama speak, it was as if he was simply speaking to everyone as if they were people. He wasn’t trying to dumb his message down or be fake in front of the camera; he seemed like a genuine person,” she said.
Barack Obama really reached out to people and it proved to be successful especially among young adults and first-time voters.
Something that was once thought to be unimportant or not necessary among young people, voting came to the forefront in the 2008 presidential election thanks to new campaign techniques that really appealed to and motivated the younger population of the United States.