“Driven in large parts by President-Elect Barack Obama’s efforts, an incredibly large number of young voters went to the poll on Tuesday. These voters overwhelmingly support Obama, who won a very secure victory. Eric Greenberg, a political commentator, said that the race would have been extremely close had the youth vote not been so active.”
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Driven in large parts by President-Elect Barack Obama’s efforts, an incredibly large number of young voters went to the poll on Tuesday.

These voters overwhelmingly support Obama, who won a very secure victory. Eric Greenberg, a political commentator, said that the race would have been extremely close had the youth vote not been so active.

This activity has largely centered around college campuses, and some college towns in Ohio saw their young voter turnout increase by 92 percent.

What caused this sudden interest in the youth (which, by the way, are defined as ages 18 – 29)? Barack Obama was incredibly successful in increasing voter turnout in general, and it was predicted that turnout for this election would reach 80 percent.

Obama’s experience as a community organizer undoubtedly helped him run his campaign, and it may also be thanks to the increase in voter turnout. Obama seems to have the ability to inspire, to get people to care – even if they, historically, don’t.

And this is the President that Washington desperately needs, a passionate leader who has the ability to rally people behind him, to get people involved. If Obama can continue to bring people together, and keep his movement growing, he will be able to achieve the change that he talks so much about.

It’s incredibly important that these people include the youth, the next generation to take charge.As Obama said Tuesday night, the work we must begin may not be finished in one term. It will be an ongoing process, and the youth are the ones who will continue it. If the turnout can improve so drastically in only four years, it can certainly become historic in the next 4, 8, 12.

The youth’s generation could become one of the most politically involved generations in history.

It’s well known that politicians never change politics, or head social movements. Social movements begin with people, and politicians jump on the train later.

In this case, however, it seems that Obama has the ability to create a movement behind him, and let’s hope that the movement doesn’t lose any steam.

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