2004 shapes up as year of 'Virgin'

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

The "Virgin Voter" is the newest demographic catchphrase in the 2004 campaign, following in the tradition of the "Soccer Mom" and the "NASCAR Dad."

Democratic strategists are focusing attention on young first-time voters, ages 18 to 25, as potential swing voters in November.

Ever since 1972 -- the first presidential election after the 26th Amendmentgave 18-year-olds the right to vote -- low turnout has typified young voters. In 2000, 42 percent of 18- to 24-years-olds voted, compared with 70 percent of Americans 25 and older, according to the nonpartisan Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement.

But this year, according to a poll conducted by Pace University, young voters plan on turning up at the polls in record numbers.

"This election is unprecedented with the amount of interest in the election," said Jehmu Greene, executive director of Rock the Vote. "Expect record numbers to come out and vote."

One reason for the greater interest among young voters this year, the Pace Poll found, is that the ultra-close 2000 election results -- with George W. Bush winning the presidency on a 537-vote margin in Florida -- convinced them that every vote really does count.

Rock the Vote, with its partnership with MTV, is the most visible of several organizations that have mounted efforts to draw young voters to the polls in 2004. Others include the Youth Vote Coalition, College Democrats, College Republicans and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Rock the Vote was founded in 1990 by members of the Recording Industry Association of America in response to what they described as attacks on freedom of expression and censorship in music. Since then, Rock the Vote's main goal has been to register young people to vote and to keep them informed about the issues.

Rock the Vote has 15,000 street team members across America "pounding the pavement and registering their friends to vote," Ms. Greene said. The organization has launched a Rock the Vote bus tour, which will visit college campuses across America registering students to vote.

Rock the Vote also has teamed up with Motorola to send young people election news through their cell phones.