The 1972 presidential election was the first where 18-year-olds could vote. The impact was similar to that of 2004, where low young voter turnout had a similar minute effect.
The 18-29 year-old voting demographic proved trivial in the close contest that Democratic challenger John Kerry conceded to President George Bush Wednesday.
The "young vote," once considered by many to be a boon to Democrats, couldn't lift Massachusetts' junior senator to the 270 electoral vote plateau needed to ensure victory. Numerous news media television networks reported Wednesday that only 17 percent of 18-29 year-old registered voters cast their ballots for president, a figure similar to that of the 2000 presidential election.
W.R. Marty, professor of political science at the University of Memphis, attributes the low young voter turnout to, among other reasons, a simple lack of urgency.
"For one, there's no military draft," Marty said. "When the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, that seemed to lessen the value of voting."
Campaign pressures, lowering of the voting age, and bitterness also play a role in young voter apathy, said Marty.
"The nature of political campaigns and candidates can make voters of any age cynical and drain legitimacy," said Marty. "People may be strained from the cross pressures in the issues."
Marty said that some young voters may have beliefs that cross party lines, causing a sense of overload, and thus no vote.
"Cross pressures fuel low voter turnout," Marty said. "Without a strongly formulated opinion, people are less inclined to vote."Robert Blanton, also a U of M political science professor, added to Marty's assertions.
"Getting the youth to turn out and vote has always been a problem," Blanton said.
Blanton drew a distinction between the opportunity to vote and the young person's desire not to do so. The dozens of voter registration drives that have taken place at the U of M this semester don't necessarily mean young people will exercise their voting privileges."It's easy to get students to register, but when it comes to getting them to the polls, it's different," Blanton said. "Basically, if students aren't feeling compelled to vote, they won't."
Blanton also factored in many students' busy lives as a deterrent to voting.
Bush and Kerry's U of M student support is still hard-nosed and compelled by their respective candidates.
"The rest of the world should have been allowed to vote (for the American presidency) because Bush is trying to rule the world," said Marcin Bartczak, a biology major. "We had six months of perfect unity after 9/11 and now it's gone."
"Go Bush," said sophomore chemistry major Chris Kemp. Kemp said his step-dad served in Iraq and was there for a genuinely good purpose.One Bush voter is relieved to see the end of polls, predictions and the campaign itself.
"I'm glad it's over," said Matt Horton, a junior business management major and member of the College Republicans.
Horton said he was perturbed by the exit polls, which he said projected Sen. Kerry ahead in some states unfairly.
"The numbers were way off," said Horton. "News people were basing their commentary on that."
