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National Young Voter Turnout Increases by More than Two Million 2008-11-05
Young voter turnout surged by at least 2.2 million votes over 2004 levels this election, according to new data released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. For the first time, young voter share of the electorate also surpassed that of voters over 65, with young people making up 18 percent of the electorate and those over 65 making up 16 percent.
Early Data Indicate Youth Turnout Up From 2004 2008-11-04
Preliminary data from local elections officials indicate that young voter turnout in many youth-dense precincts increased significantly over 2004 – as high as 287%. These early numbers offer an important glimpse at what to expect tomorrow when national youth turnout numbers are available.
New Study Finds Texting Increased Young Voter Primary Turnout 2008-10-22
Text message reminders sent to young voters on Super Tuesday increased turnout by 4.6 percentage points among the targeted population, according to results released today by the Student PIRGs' New Voters Project and CREDO Mobile, in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame.
How to Get Out the Student Vote: A Briefing Paper 2008-10-15
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the Student PIRGs' New Voters Project will run the largest on the ground non-partisan effort in the country to turn out young voters on November 4th – targeting students on 100 campuses in 17 states. This massive student 'get out the vote' drive – spearheaded by thousands of volunteers across the country – is rooted in 25 years of experience and based on a host of studies that point toward the efficacy of such efforts in maximizing youth turnout.
Last Registration Push Hits College Campuses 2008-10-06
As voter registration deadlines arrive in 29 states this week, student leaders of the Student PIRGs' New Voters Project will hit campuses across the country in an effort to ensure unprecedented student registration rates this election cycle. "Over 70 percent of young people who register to vote will show up on Election Day," said Sujatha Jahagirdar, Program Director for the project, the largest non-partisan on the ground effort to mobilize young voters this fall. "This last registration push is thus crucial to ensuring the voice of young people is heard this Election Day."
Ensuring the Rights of College Students to Vote 2008-09-25
Testimony given before the Committee on House Administration by Sujatha Jahagirdar, Program Director, Student PIRGs' New Voters Project.
Twenty States Not Enforcing Federal Laws on Voter Lists 2008-09-24
A new survey of state laws and election officials shows that, on the eve of the 2008 general election, twenty states do not have laws, regulations or systems in place to properly implement a federally mandated 90-day pre-Election Day ban on systemic voter list purges. The survey, "Vanishing Voters," was conducted during the summer of 2008 by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
Nation's Leading Voter Registration Groups Join Forces with MySpace for "Ultimate College Bowl" to Register College Students to Vote 2008-09-09
MySpace, the world's premier social network, and five of the leading voter registration and civic groups in the US today announced a partnership to launch the Ultimate College Bowl, a contest that will award scholarships and a free concert with Death Cab for Cutie to the students and school that register the most students to vote.
Democratic National Convention - Youth Vote Leader Spokespersons & Schedule of Events 2008-08-23
A look at key youth vote leader spokespersons and the schedule of events The Student PIRGs New Voters Project will take part in at the Democratic National Convention.
Voting Rights Advocates Challenge New Mexico's Voter Registration Law in New Mexico State Court 2008-07-24
Today the Brennan Center for Justice, along with pro bono law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell and Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg & Ives, filed a lawsuit in state court in Albuquerque challenging a New Mexico law that significantly restricts the ability of voter registration groups to register new voters and threatens to block thousands of eligible New Mexico citizens from registering and voting in the 2008 elections as unconstitutional and inconsistent with federal and state law. Plaintiffs in the case are the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas Inc. (FAWCO), New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG), and the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP).
Indiana Voter ID Law Turns Students Away from Polls 2008-05-06
Student PIRG New Voters Project staff stationed at polling locations near Indiana campuses today are beginning to hear from young voters turned away at the polls for a failure to meet voter identification laws upheld by the Supreme Court last week.
Youth Vote Momentum Persists in Keystone Contest 2008-04-27
High young voter turnout rates seen in the presidential contest to date persisted in yesterday's closely-watched Pennsylvania primary.
Campus "Get out the Vote" Schedule of Events 2008-04-14
In the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania Primary, student leaders with PennPIRG are working feverishly to ensure high turnout numbers on Philadelphia-area campuses. To continue the youth vote momentum seen in the first presidential contests of the year on April 22nd, students will organize phone banks, dorm storms, shuttles to the polls and other campus visibility events to build Election Day buzz on campus.
PennPIRG New Voters Project - Mobilizing Pennsylvania's Youth Vote 2008-04-09
Since 2004, PennPIRG's New Voters Project has been among the state's leading non-partisan youth voter mobilization programs. Founded with the goal of increasing youth political participation, we believe that increasing young voter rates seen over the past several election cycles bode well for democracy for three key reasons.
Youth Vote Nearly Triples in Texas, Nearly Doubles in Ohio 2008-03-05
Young voter turnout continued its dramatic rise in last night's primaries. According to an analysis performed by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, young voter turnout tripled in Texas and nearly doubled in Ohio.
Student Volunteers Urge Young Voters to the Polls 2008-03-04
Campus leaders with Ohio PIRG's New Voters Project pounded the pavement in last minute push for youth voter turnout today. Using text messaging, walking sandwich boards, and 'Vote' stickers, student leaders pulled out all the stops to urge their peers to the polls.
Getting Out the Youth Vote - Ohio PIRG's New Voters Project 2008-02-29
Since 2004, Ohio PIRG's New Voters Project has been among the state's leading non-partisan youth voter mobilization program. Founded with the goal of increasing youth political participation, we believe that these increasing young voter rates bode well for democracy for three key reasons.
Youth Turnout Up Sharply in Key Super Tuesday States 2008-02-06
Youth turnout surged in key primary states last night, continuing a striking trend started in the first presidential contests of 2008. "In all the noise of last night's election, one message was heard loud and clear," said Sujatha Jahagirdar, Program Director with the Student PIRGs' New Voters Project. "Young people are tuning in and turning out."
Super Tuesday Campus "Get out the Youth Vote" - Schedule of Events and Student Leader Profiles 2008-02-04
Student volunteers across the country will be out in force today and tomorrow - storming classrooms, dorms and campus quads. Their goal - get out the youth vote on Super Tuesday.
Young Voter Push Gets Text Message Boost 2008-02-01
In an effort to tap into a new generation of voters that is plugged in, on-line and networked, youth vote organizers will send 20,000 young voters a text reminder to vote on the eve of Super Tuesday. The "text out the vote" push comes on the heels of a joint Student PIRGs' New Voters Project and Credo Mobile study released this fall that found such messages can increase youth turnout.
Surge in Youth Vote Continues Despite Uncontested Democratic Primary 2008-01-30
Youth vote surges seen in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina continued into the Sunshine State last night, with young voter turnout more than tripling over 2000 levels.
Youth Voter Turnout Nearly Triples in South Carolina 2008-01-27
Buoyed by a South Carolina youth vote that nearly tripled over the last Democratic primary, young people are ramping up their efforts to turn out their peers in Super Tuesday states. From California to Colorado; New Mexico to New Jersey, students leaders are using Facebook, Flickr, text-messaging and are pounding the pavement to ensure the youth vote is head loud and clear on February 5th.
Youth Vote Surges by 25 percent in New Hampshire 2008-01-09
Youth voter turnout surged by 25 percent in New Hampshire, with 53,000 more young people turning to the polls last night than in 2004. The increase in youth turnout represented more than seven times the margin of victory by Democratic winner Clinton. Once again youth were critical in deciding the winners - with McCain winning the youth vote on the Republican ticket and Clinton winning the 25-29 year old age bracket, edging out Obama who won the 18-24 year old vote.
Young Voters Turn Out Big in New Hampshire, Critical to Winners 2008-01-08
After several months of mobilizing their peers and reaching out to Presidential candidates to get them to pay attention, young volunteers are seeing the rewards of their efforts with record youth turnout in the New Hampshire primaries. According to CNN exit polls, youth will account for nearly 18 percent of the Democratic primary turnout and 14 percent of the Republican primary turnout.
Youth Organizers Gear Up to Ensure Continued Increase in Youth Vote Turnout 2008-01-08
As thousands of young New Hampshire voters head to the polls today, youth organizers across the country are gearing up to ensure that 2004 trends in young voter turnout continue through the remainder of the election season.
Young Iowans Turn Out in Huge Numbers, Critical to Caucus Winners 2008-01-04
Despite the winter break caucus date, cold temperatures, long lines and delays due to high turnout, young people flocked to the caucuses and made their voices heard. According to CNN entrance polls, youth will account for nearly 22 percent of the Democratic caucus turnout, a five percent increase over 2004. Fifty-seven percent of youth voted for projected Democratic winner Barack Obama, while 40 percent voted for projected Republican winner Mike Huckabee.
Youth Turnout in Iowa More Than Triples; Youth Vote in New Hampshire and Beyond 2008-01-04
According to a new analysis youth turnout in Iowa (17-29 year olds) more than tripled over 2004, with 65,000 young people turning out to caucus. The youth vote also decided the caucus winners. Fifty-seven percent of youth voted for Democratic winner Barack Obama, while 40 percent voted for Republican winner Mike Huckabee. Iowa PIRG students were critical in boosting the youth vote, personally contacting and turning out thousands of youth in the final days leading up to the caucuses.
Thousands of Iowa College Students to Rock the Caucus 2008-01-03
Today, 250 Iowa PIRG student leaders are calling, texting, and throwing Rock the Caucus parties at caucus locations across the state to rally thousands of their peers to turn out to vote. Despite the date of the caucuses and recent suggestions that some Iowa youth shouldn't caucus, young Iowans are gearing up to participate in the nation's first Presidential contest of 2008.
Students to Bring Young Voter Concerns Directly to Candidates 2008-01-03
Undeterred by the hurdle posed by winter break to getting out the student vote, student organizers from New Hampshire PIRG and sister organizations across the Northeast are determined to replicate their Iowa success. Key to this strategy is to ensure that the presidential candidates are directly engaging young people in the issues they care about.
Iowa Student Leaders Decry Calls for Disenfranchisement 2007-12-11
In response to a column posted today by the Des Moines Register and statements recently issued by several presidential candidates, we as Iowa student leaders, are urging all of the presidential candidates to encourage youth turnout, instead of discouraging youth participation in the Iowa caucuses. The full statement is below.