Election 2009: Where have all the young voters gone?

The tale of the tape is in the turnout.

In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie pulled out a surprisingly comfortable victory over a better-financed incumbent. In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell won an impressive victory touting what he could do to create more jobs. 

In both cases, the key to victory was in who showed up. Put another way, the young people who fueled Barack Obama's historic presidential victory last year stayed home.

In New Jersey in 2008, the under-30 vote made up 22% of the electorate. One year later, the tally dropped to 8%.

And in Virginia, the under-30s made up 10% of this year's election, down from 21% when Obama was at the top of the ticket.

All of which may be another way of saying that Obama had enough charisma to overcome the historic apathy of the youth vote.

The issue for Democrats this morning: how to get the vote folks back before the 2010 elections.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo:  Bob McDonnell  greets supporters during a campaign rally on Monday in Alexandria, Va. Credit: Getty Images

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Comments

[tony]

In the presidential election there was a rush to elect the first black president. Is it possible that particular impetus/emphasis was lacking for these two major gubernatorial contests? What do the voter demographics look like? I Don't know, just asking.

[Jon Strum]

Voters in off-year elections ALWAYS trend older...and more conservative. What's the point of your post? And how honest is it to write this post without pointing out the historical truth?

[Tyler]

Google News Activism.... tell me why is this at the top of Google News site? A small blog comment?

[JOhn]

They came out for a Pop Star in Obama..that where they went. maybe now they realize they were duped

[JJ McPherson]

What a biased article... "All of which may be another way of saying that Obama had enough charisma to overcome the historic apathy of the youth vote. "

You guys lost, get over it.

[Codger]

You talk about the decline in young voters as if that's a bad thing. In 2008 young voters gave us an untested candidate whose face and abs were all over the covers of entertainment magazines. His position on the issues? Who cares? We like the way he looks on TV and the way he talks in front of those styrofoam columns. (Swoon.) Young voters lack experience and are easily taken in by image. Who needs 'em?

[Dexter Ehlers]

Consider this possibility - not only did they not show up in the nearly the same numbers, but they also may have had second thoughts regarding their strong support for Obama and his policies.

[Carl Billadeau]

You are comparing the superbowl to a regular season game. The truth is, if it's not saturated by media coverage we don't really care. President Obama had a very smart campaign. We saw him everywhere we went. We saw all this and said "Hey this guy is one of us! He's my myspace friend!" On election day, the internet zombies stepped out of our silicon tomb and cast a vote.

I am 23 now. We have been at war for most of my life and in a major war for almost half of it. We have seen the ugly face of big banks and big insurance companies have their way with minimal resistance. It's almost 2010 and changes have been slow. If they big guy can't change things, why should we care who the small fries are?

The 2010 elections will undoubtedly recieve more media coverage, but even the sway of major media is fading. Even with that being the case the formula has not changed much. Have clever INTERNET advertising, get on the media's good side, and don't say something stupid. If you want the young vote, you have to cater to us. If you don't do that, don't expect us to show up or even care. This is the generation you are dealing with. I am glad to be part of it!

-Carl

[Gina D.]

This election had No push from Acorn, that is why the election went the way it did... with all the Publicity it got, if they were suspicous in rigging the vote the voters this time would be down their necks.
Look, alot of kids got $10-20 bucks to vote last time, so the money wasn't there like before... FACT.

[Jeanette]

If it was the so-called "youth" vote that gave us the usurper soetoro in the WH, it's probably a good thing such uninformed voters sit future elections out!

[walt]

Yes, the vote is now turning to the older and wiser. We aren't fooled by what a person says, but what they do or have done.
We aren't fooled by those who tell you what you want to hear.
We aren't fooled by good looks, speeches written in careful context, smiles and jokes.
We aren't fooled because we have been there- done that. We know their intents.

[yanni raz]

All I can say is that they're waisting their time. I think America chose the right person to lead America.

[Tony Bliar]

Whether a democrat or a republican wins, matters not...the Ruling Ultra-Rich Oligarchs stay in power. The young are starting to wake up and realize this. JFK said "If you make Peaceful Revolution Impossible - You make Violent Revolution Inevitable. Obama is a cruel hoax, a fraud. It seemed as if he would be bring Change - the only Change he brought was to Change His Mind and renege on his promises...Whether or not he is a "nice guy", he is a captive of his Wall Street Masters. They call the shots. They have captured the White House in Broad Daylight. The Financial 9/11 that has occured will change America forever, and if people do not stand up, a Tyranny will our future. Wake up everyone - it is now time to take back our country from the Criminals who have stolen it. They are dumbing us down, poisoning our food and water, spraying us with Chemtrail Spray Operations, (LOOK UP!!), and pushing BioWeapon Vaccines on us. Wake Up. This is not Conspiracy Theory, it is Conspiracy Fact. Have faith, Have Courage, Fight for TRUTH and FREEDOM!

[J Malone]

The reason that the under 30 voters didn't turn out to vote isn't because "Obama had enough charisma to overcome the historic apathy of the youth vote", it's because Obama has not followed through with any of his CHANGE promises. Now we, the under 30 voters who bought into the CHANGE bull, are quickly learning what politics are all about - Change NOTHING! We are waking up and deciding to make change happen ourselves. Young people = Tea Party.... Tea Party = New rEVOLution.

[Harv]

Oops, I see another person has already commented on the way you spun the article to make Obama still sound like a winner despite his being real behavior being the sole reason--well, Congress has helped somewhat--for the slide in the young Demos enthusiasm. Just wait, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.

[cicero]

"The young voters" realized, that both parties are corrupt to the bones.

[Rabbit]

I think the most likely explanation is that Obama turned out to be such a shocking dissapointment, ont heir first foray into voting for most young people, that they are not going to waste time with that ridiculous stunt again. You'll hear from those young people, proper, when they start beating down your doors and institutions in the fury which is rising up from the ranks of the dissatisfied and angry humanity which is growing.

[Marc Ald]

Being a minor midterm election that is usually reserved for school boards it isn't surprising that many voters missed out on this one. The media being completely corporate owned doesn't exactly inform voters even though they operate on the voters public airwaves. They also exaggerate a few dull gubenatorial races. Voters shouldn't become complacent however, because the powers that be are going to try and destroy the futures of these young voters with scrambling, bloodshot eyed, greedy ferver. Few problems that were created during the past 8 years have been repaired. It's time to remobilize the true patriots. The battle is far from over. This is not the time to forget who wrecked this country. They will drag it down further and further if they are allowed to regain control. Their greed is unquenchable.

[steve rodriguez]

Sold a bill of goods by Obama!!!

[Linda]

Under thirty can't focus on any one thing for more than five minutes.. last year the Obama under thirty voters did not pay attention to the danger signs in Obama. They didn't read his books, didn't listen to his speeches, just voted for him 'cause he's cool

[susan riegler]

America's youth just like the rest of America are suffering from voter's remorse. We fell for the 'change' thing and found that this has nothing to do with the change we were led to expect. We want the priviledge of pursuing the American dream just like the generations before us but the obama administration is ripping that rug right out from under us at an alarming rate of speed. They barely even bother to hide their sympathies toward our enemies and their hatred for America and American values. You do not have to be an A math student to see that we will not have our own money in our own pockets it will be redistributed to the pockets of big government. Get excited about voting? Give us a candidate that really cares about this country and that is not so blatantly corrupt. Acorn is on its way down the toilet, thank God. But that is no thanks to the corrupt government officials who rely on acorn corruption.