This document was compiled by Jane Fleming Kleeb with Young Voter PAC and Mike Connery with Future Majority.  Updated information, analysis and graphs are housed at www.futuremajority.com and more to be published in the coming weeks. 

The Numbers at a Glance:
52%, the turnout of young people under 30.  In 2000, the figure was 40% and in 2004 it was 49% (respective numbers for older voters 65% in 2000, 68% in 2004).

60%, the percentage young people who made up of the entire increase of voters.

2-to-1, the margin young voters voted for Obama over McCain.

23 million, the number of young people who voted in 2008, 3.4 million more than in 2004.

66% Obama - 32% McCain, the highest partisan margin ever for young voters.  Past margins were 48-46 for Al Gore in 2000 and 54-45 margin for John Kerry in 2004.

34% points, the margin between Obama and McCain which is the highest of any generation’s choice for President.

66%, the percentage of young people who voted for Obama, compared to 52% of all voters. In 2000, 48% of young voters choose Gore compared to 48.3% of older voters.  In 2004, 54% young voters went for Kerry versus 48.1% of older voters.

18%, the share of the electorate young people comprised in 2008. 

44 million, the number of young people that make up the Millennial generation, those born in the years 1978-1995.

22%, the percentage young people make up of the overall eligible electorate and by 2010 they will make up at least 30% of the electorate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Young Voter PAC teamed up with Future Majority to focus some attention on candidates that are running “down ballot.”  We want young people to vote in a solid team of candidates that will help change Washington–because we know change does not stop at the top!

Watch Facebook and your local college papers for these candidates:

Bob Lord, AZ-03

Daniel Biss, IL-17

Scott Kleeb, NE-Sen

Heath Mello, NE-05

Dian Slavens, MI-21

Lisa Brown, MI-39

Tom Perriello, VA-05

Rising Stars
an evening to celebrate the next generation of the Democratic Party

Tuesday, August 26
9pm-1am

5 Degrees Lounge
1475 Lawrence Blvd., Denver

Click here to become a sponsor!

Blue Sponsor, $25,000
20 VIP Invitations
Prominent logo placement as “Presenter” on invitation
Name/Logo placement at event via flatscreen TVs

Red Sponsor, $10,000
10 VIP Invitations
Logo placement as “Sponsor” on invitation
Name/Logo placement at event

White Sponsor, $5,000
5 VIP Invitations
Name/Logo placement at event

Thanks to all that attended the Young Voter PAC, Future Majority and Living Liberally’s Celebrity Bartender After Party at Netroots Nation.

You can check out pictures of the bartenders and the event here!

Please thank the bartenders by donating to their campaigns or by making a contribution to the Young Voter PAC.

Celebrity Bartenders (candidates):

Darcy Burner, Washington’s Computer Wiz

Jon Powers, New York’s Fighting Vet

Mark Strama, Texas’ Youth Voting Rep

Celebrity Bartenders (bloggers):

Joan McCarter, Mcjoansing for Change

Markos Moulitsas, Daily Kos Gate Crasher

Matt Stoller, Open Left(y)

We all know the importance of targeting and engaging young voters. In addition to well-established approaches – you know, like actually talking to young voters about issues we care about and using peer-to-peer outreach to do that – we have seen a number of successful non-traditional outreach methods. One of those tools is community service.

Young people volunteer for community service at much higher rates than they volunteer for traditional political activities. There is a culture of service in the Millennial generation that is rooted in the belief that community service is an effective way to solve important issues, locally and nationally. Our friends at Democrats Work are harnessing that passion for service and linking it to politics.

As many of you know, Democrats Work connects grassroots Democrats to community service projects. Through this service-based approach, Democrats Work is moving politics onto the turf of young voters, making community service an integral part of political activism. Their latest efforts to build the “politics of service” movement is an innovative contest with General Wesley Clark.

The “Serve with the General” will send General Clark to a competitive Congressional district to do a Democrats Work community service event helping returned veterans, painting a public school that needs it, supporting our troops, cleaning up a neglected part of town. We have a chance to send Clark to a district where a youth-friendly candidate is running for Congress.

You can vote to send General Clark to a Congressional district where the candidates are already making young voters a priority. I want to point out a few: Darcy Burner (WA-08), Bob Lord (AZ-03), Ashwin Madia (MN-06), Gary Peters (MI-09), Dan Seals (IL-10), and Gary Trauner (WY-AL).

Take a look at these districts when deciding where to send General Clark. You can cast your vote here: www.democratswork.org.

P.S. We hope to have a candidate or two here in the next few days talking about how his or her campaign is targeting young voters. Stay tuned.

Young people can stand proud that their generational power helped elect Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

Young people voted strong in Iowa and continued the trend of doubling and tripling their turnout numbers in state after state during the primary election season.

“With the continued targeting and spending of resources on young people, Democrats will not only take back the White House but Democratic candidates up and down the ticket will win on November 4, 2008,” said Jane Fleming Kleeb, Young Voter PAC Executive Director. “This generation of young people is engaged and voting and will help take America in a new and better direction.”

A new generation of voices is creating a new electoral map and a new direction for the country. With the nomination of Barack Obama young voters had its hand in a historic and proud moment for our country.

2008 Important Numbers:

Young people are voting for Democrats with a 2 to 1 margin.

Young people tripled their turnout during the primary elections and over 80% voted with Democrats.

This generation of young people is not only engaged about a single issue, they care about the economy, healthcare, the environment and the Iraq war.

Young people voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama in Pennsylvania with 61% going for Obama and 39% voting for Clinton. The trend of a generational divide in the voting patterns continues. Younger voters go for Obama, while older voters went for Clinton.

While we are still waiting for the raw turnout numbers of voters in Pennsylvania, the youth share of the overall electorate was 3% points above the average share for 2004. This number is consistent with the increased turnout in other states and an increased share compared to the last two general elections.

Obama reaffirmed his commitment to young and first time voters saying during his speech tonight, “It is those new voters who will lead our party to victory in November.”

The Young Voter PAC calls on the Democratic Party as well as the Obama and Clinton campaigns to continue to invest more resources in the youth vote. Young voters will change the face of elections and will help bring Democrats up and down the ticket to victory in 2008. But only if we invest real resources in order for the energy and voting to transform into lasting votes for Democrats.

Additionally, there have been reports of newly registered young voters receiving incorrect polling locations by the State election board. We will follow these stories and post any information from groups like Common Cause as we get updates.

The Young Voter PAC and Young Super Delegates want all young people to be able to run in their state’s delegate races. While we understand the rules affirm campaigns can cut their lists to the minimum amount required by the rules (which we post below), we still believe it is critical, in order to continue to build the Democratic Party and secure the youth voting bloc, that young people be given the opportunity to run and that young people be considered for “At-Large” or “PLEO” delegate spots.

Since this is the first time so many young people are running as delegates, making sure young people know the rules so they have the best possible shot at getting elected to represent their candidates as a delegate in an important role for everyone involved in the Democratic family.

There are some things you can do as a young person in order to get elected in your state to be a “pledged delegate” for your candidates of choice in Denver, CO at the DNC’s National Convention.

It should be noted, that we are talking about pledged delegates. There is no room (this time around) for you to become an “unpledged delegate” at this point in the process because those slots are given to your State Party leaders, state DNC Members, Democratic Congressional Members and Distinguished Party leaders. But, if you are looking ahead to 4 years from now—you can and should try to become a DNC member in your state.

If you have any questions, please email info@youngvoterpac.org or visit www.youngvoterpac.org.

General Tip

Get known by all the decision makers and opinion leaders. Being known is critical. Do NOT be humble in this process. Create a Facebook or MySpace page making the case for your delegate status, talk to the campaign, write letters to your DNC members especially the Chair (and share a copy of the letter in the resources section), write letters to your elected officials…reach out to folks and make the case. Read the rest of this entry »

Young people continue the trend of increased turnout and preference for Democrats in the primary elections. For stats, stories and other information on the elections please visit our “News” section. You can even sort by the news by “Presidential” just to see stories and stats on young voters so far this election cycle.

On behalf of the Young Voter PAC, we applaud the California Democratic Party, young leaders and the Obama campaign for standing up for the youth vote.

While we understand the political reality that the Obama campaign made earlier this week to cut some potential delegates off of the list in California, we along with the California Party and young leaders voiced our concerns to the campaign in hopes they would change their mind and allow all potential delegates to run as delegates to the National Convention at elections taking place this Sunday in California.

Young people, in particular, are energized this election cycle doubling and tripling their turnout numbers in the primary elections and caucuses.

“Any action to try and squelch young peoples’ enthusiasm and most importantly the drive to not just be voters and volunteers but leaders within the Party should be called out by all youth vote leaders. For too long young people have not felt welcome or seen the Party structure as a place for change,” said Jane Fleming Kleeb, Young Voter PAC Director.

In the Obama campaign’s official statement on the delegate issue in California, they reminded potential delegates of both their desire for a unified National Convention and for patience this Sunday at the caucus locations, “we are confident that delegates elected from this pool will reflect the Senator’s commitment to a diverse and unified delegation at the National Convention. An overwhelming number of supporters have signed up to run for delegate, so there will likely be lines and tight space at the caucus locations. We ask for everyone’s patience and cooperation.”

“Young people continue to show they are not apathetic, that they are engaged at all levels of our Party,” said Jason Rae, a young Superdelegate from Wisconsin. “We are looking forward to the continued trend of young people helping Democrats win up and down the ticket this November.”

The Young Voter PAC hopes the Obama campaign’s encouraging decision will translate to all other states and that the Clinton campaign will follow this decision as well so that all potential delegates will have the opportunity to run as Delegates to the National Convention in Denver, Colorado this summer.

Amber Goodwin, a Young Voter PAC volunteer, potential delegate and Texas Young Democrats activist stated, “This incident reminds us of the power of the youth vote and the power of having young committed staff inside the Party and leading youth groups that understand the value of the youth vote and that won’t stop until their power is recognized and appreciated.”

The Young Voter PAC is based on a simple idea; politics is better off with more young people involved. We are dedicated to helping Democrats win with the youth vote through candidate endorsements, on-the-ground support, training, strategy, media, and money. The youth vote (18-35 year olds) has emerged as a critical base of support for electoral success. We work on a national and local level to help guide candidates, State Parties and allied organizations in their youth voting plans so they can secure this bloc of voters and build long-term infrastructures in their communities and states. www.youngvoterpac.org