The poll, conducted online by research company Harris Interactive, surveyed 2,546 people between the ages of 18 and 24.,”
Despite previously low voting numbers in student age groups, a poll released Wednesday by the Harvard Institute of Politics found that young Americans could be expected to vote in record numbers in today's midterm election.
The poll, conducted online from Oct. 4 to 16 by research company Harris Interactive, surveyed 2,546 people between the ages of 18 and 24. It found that 32 percent of people in that age group are "definitely" planning on voting today. Past polls only surveyed people in the age group enrolled at colleges and universities, but this year's included non-students as well.
According to Krister Anderson, a senior at Harvard and student chair of the poll, the findings have a three percent margin of error and can be expected to be fairly accurate.
"We have a very charged political atmosphere right now that is driving people to the polls to make a statement," Anderson said.
Overall, there are a variety of reasons why students could be more motivated to vote in this election.
"I'm excited because I just turned 18," said Amanda Mehr, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences. "I've worked on political campaigns before, and it's so much more rewarding if you actually get to vote."
Other students are voting because of specific issues at stake in the election.
The war in Iraq seems to be the top issue driving 18 to 24 year olds to the polls, Anderson said. The poll found that almost half of the respondents would support the withdrawal of troops from Iraq within the next year.
However, a record number of voters in this age group probably wouldn't make a very big difference in the overall turnout.
"Usually students are the lowest of any group. Record turnout could still be very low in comparison to other age groups," said Charles Franklin, professor of political science at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Leading up to the election, campaigns have been targeting students to gain support.
"Young people in university settings are easier to mobilize, and both parties have been concentrating on campuses," Franklin said. "But it's hard to do that with an already low turnout."
However, even increased attention has left some young voters feeling ignored.
"A lot of students feel like people aren't reaching out to them," Anderson said.
Students are a minority when it comes to overall voting numbers, so it is not surprising that they are not always at the top of politicians' lists.
Another issue that prevents college-age adults from voting is that politics aren't necessarily their top priority.
"There are lots of other pressing things going on in the lives of 18- to 24 year-olds," Franklin said. "Some are just more concerned with college, getting jobs, or starting families than they are politics."
But in the end, every vote counts, which makes it incredibly important for anyone who can vote to vote.
"We're the next generation of people to run the country. If we don't vote, older generations won't take us seriously," said Shayla Fay, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.
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