Young voters increase turnout, aid Democratic victories

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Wednesday November 8, 2006

Washington- Younger voters turned out in higher numbers in Tuesday's US congressional elections, giving a lift to Democratic candidates in a contest that gave the party control of the US House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. "This is a new generation," Hans Riemer, political director of Rock the Vote, an organization that seeks to mobilize young voters, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. "They're more involved, more engaged, and less cynical."

Exit polls showed that voters between the ages of 18 and 29 cast 13 per cent of all votes, up from 11 per cent in the 2002 elections, the last non-presidential national election. Voter turnout is typically higher in presidential elections.

That increase is important because the proportion of young voters has become smaller in the same time period, causing the increase to outpace the growth in turnout among all voters, Rock the Vote said.

Young voters traditionally favour Democratic candidates and did so by a 22 point margin on Tuesday, the organization said, citing exit polls.

Analysts saw record turnout particularly in hotly contested areas. In Virginia, the last undecided contest that will determine control of the Senate, 52 per cent of registered voters cast ballots.

The Democratic takeover of the House and possibly the Senate was seen widely as a response to the unpopular war in Iraq. Young voters reflected that widespread dissatisfaction, Reimer said.

If anything, younger voters are "more opposed, their views are stronger, more intense," he said.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency