After the student turnout in the 2008 election, this year’s presidential candidates and their supportive student organizations are eager to reach the college demographic.
“There’s been a lot of talk,” said President Barack Obama in a conference call with student media Tuesday. “But the fact of the matter is, we’ve seen in the past and we’re going to see again the kind of difference young voters make.”
Student organizations, such as the Ohio University College Republicans, are preparing for the election season by tabling and encouraging students to register, said the organization’s president Ryan Dilworth.
“Every vote counts, and this demographic is screaming for attention, and they’re going to go out and vote,” Dilworth said. “The candidates are forced to acknowledge us as a demographic.”
In 2008, more than 60 percent of U.S. citizens between 18-29 years of age were registered voters.
OU College Democrats have also been actively recruiting and registering students since the involvement fair, said their president Shannon Welch.
“People come up to our table to register — whether they’re Democrat or Republican,” Welch said. “People will ask and we definitely try to get that from students because we want them to register to vote. It’s important to get out and vote.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
