To hear the full interview with Professor Joe Kahne, click on the player above.
Youth might not be going to the polls in vast numbers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about making change in their communities, and in the national issues that affect their lives. (more…)
Youth voter turnout in New Hampshire is typically among the highest in the nation — on par with that of older voters, according to new research put forth by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).
Turnout among voters aged 18-to-29 more than doubled during the state’s 2008 primaries, when President Obama ran for office, CIRCLE research reflects. As the polls are open today in New Hampshire, are we seeing that level of activity this time around? No, says New Hampshire Public Radio reporter Josh Rogers.
I emailed Josh today, inquiring about the possible effects of the youth vote on today’s New Hampshire primary. Here is the result of our conversation:
TURNSTYLE: Young voters in New Hampshire have among the highest turnout rates in the country — on par with older voters. Why is that?
JOSH ROGERS: One thing that facilitates participation by all primary voters are New Hampshire’s election laws. Voters here can register at the polls, and registered independent voters — in New Hampshire we call them undeclared — can vote in either party’s primary. Voters are also not required to show ID.
TS: Youth voter turnout for the New Hampshire Primary more than doubled in 2008 (according to CIRCLE). Anecdotally, are you seeing anything notable today among young voters at New Hampshire polling stations?
JR: While Texas Congressman Ron Paul has the most conspicuous support from many younger voters, I don’t think anyone expects participation by the young to reach the heights of four years ago, when the Obama/Clinton primary brought many young people to the polls, particularly in New Hampshire’s college towns.
TS: How disruptive has the Occupy Movement been at this primary? Any surprises?
JR: The Occupy folks have been around. But apart from a few interruptions at candidate events — chanting, the occasional trombone interlude — and an encampment in a Manchester park, the Occupy Movement hasn’t been particularly high-profile here.
TS: What issues do young Republican voters in New Hampshire seem to care the most about? Are most young voters today actually Republican? (From CIRCLE: Nearly 40% of Young Republican Primary Voters Identified as “Independent” in 2008. … There were roughly 51,000 youth who participated in the Democratic primary in 2008 and 33,000 youth who participated in the Republican primary.)
JR: There are surely many young voters who are drawn to the Republican party but I don’t think, nor do Republican leaders here, that most young voters in New Hampshire are Republicans.
As far as issues go, most young republicans I’ve been talking to say fiscal matters are their top concerns: the national debt, the federal budget, federal spending. Fewer of them support the social issues that are important to many conservatives: opposition to same-sex marriage, for instance.
TS: Is there a decipherable sentiment or trend you are witnessing at the polls today?
JR: Turnout was expected to be fairly high, but I personally saw nothing that leaves me convinced it necessarily will be high. Mitt Romney is surely expected to win. If he doesn’t it would be a big loss. But the race for second does seems to be between Ron Paul and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who have both reached out to young people. So youth voters could be pivotal in that respect.
While some evangelical Christians have made religion an issue in the GOP presidential race, declining to support candidate Mitt Romney because he’s Mormon, a new poll of Latino voters indicates that religion isn’t a big factor for the majority of Latinos in the voting booth.
A nationwide poll of Latino registered voters conducted by impreMedia, parent company of the Spanish-language daily La Opinión, and the polling firm Latino Decisions shows 53 percent of those polled saying their own religion doesn’t really influence which candidate they choose. Forty percent said it does, though not to a large degree for all of these. From the report:
For more on the story, visit the Multi-American
Although the numbers appear balanced, they become clearer when broken down: Only 23% said their religion has a “big impact,” while 17% said the candidate’s religion has a “small” impact. The only exception is among Latinos who are part of the GOP, since 47% said their religion does have a big impact on their election choices.
“It’s always been said that Latinos have a conflict between their religion and their political tendencies. That they’re usually more progressive on economic policy but conservative on social issues,” said Matt Barreto, a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle and advisor to Latino Decisions.
However, Barreto said the poll reflects no such conflict: “Religion and social and moral values are not among their priorities when they make their political and election calculations.”
The poll confirmed that Latino voters place little or no importance on traditional moral issues when voting: 75% think the economy, jobs and taxes are much more important in politics. Only 14% said moral or social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage or family values are more important.
For more on the story, visit the Multi-American
Last night, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted down redistricting plans 4-1 that would have created a second Latino-majority supervisorial district, a plan supported by Latino civil rights advocates and Gloria Molina, the county’s sole Latina supervisor on a board of five.
The main argument for this plan has been that the county’s population is now close to 50 percent Latino, translating into a glaring lack of representation under the current arrangement. The redistricting backed by Molina, whose district is majority Latino, would have redrawn the lines to create another district with a majority of Latino voters. The board instead approved a plan that more or less maintains the status quo.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has promised to sue under the federal Voting Rights Act, alleging the current boundaries violate its provisions. In order to win, a federal judge would have to decide that there is “racially polarized” voting taking place in the county and that the current boundaries illegally weaken the power of Latino voters.
It would not be the first time a federal judge has ruled this way regarding L.A. County’s supervisorial district boundaries.
For some background, visit KPCC’s Multi-American.
The deadline passed an hour ago for Emmy ballots to be submitted. As a new–and seemingly indifferent–member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, I voted this year and marveled at how the ballot inspired my inner cheerleader (and bully).
You see, in most categories, you can cast up to ten votes on your “scantron” ballot, which looks like an SAT test answer sheet, also requiring a number two pencil. With ten votes, and often dozens of choices, I found myself employing strategic tactics to get my shows to win: Voting for what I imagined as the stiffest competitors of a show I don’t like, but will likely be a front runner this year. And in categories where I don’t know enough to vote intelligently–such as Children’s Programs and Variety-Music-Comedy Specials–I either picked the most altruistic titles or voted for whom I assumed was a deserving underdog.
One thing that irked me is I didn’t get to vote for any of the actors. I couldn’t immediately figure out why by looking on the academy’s site, but assume it is because I am a mere “active member.” There are several stratum leading all the way up to the highest, which is, surprisingly, “Los Angeles Area Membership.” You’d think the “emeritus” level would be the highest, right?
I suppose this will make the awards show worth watching.
Go Dexter! (That’s all I really care about, after all. That and Mad Men… and United States of Tara… and the Big C… and… Okay! I do care about a bunch of shows!)
