EF Faculty Adviser 
We're told that Obama’s support among younger voters is strong, but it remains to be seen if they will actually turn out to vote on Tuesday. After all, registering to vote isn’t the same as showing up and punching the chad. According to the Detroit Free Press, “Despite all the hullabaloo about young people and the 2008 election, as a general rule, 18-to-late twentysomethings don't care about voting as much as their elders.”
At the Kent State East Liverpool Campus, a “mock” presidential election held this week by student government supports that notion. Out of 900 or so students, only 37 were willing to vote. Many actively “refused” to participate when asked. Of the 37 student voters, McCain pulled 49 percent, Obama 43 percent. When faculty/staff votes are included in the mix, the tide shifts to Obama with 59 percent to McCain’s 36 percent.
If anything, the informal data gathered at the East Liverpool campus show that very few of our young people take part in the political process. Those who do favor McCain for president, while faculty and staff overwhelmingly favor Obama (79 to 21 percent).
We're told that Obama’s support among younger voters is strong, but it remains to be seen if they will actually turn out to vote on Tuesday. After all, registering to vote isn’t the same as showing up and punching the chad. According to the Detroit Free Press, “Despite all the hullabaloo about young people and the 2008 election, as a general rule, 18-to-late twentysomethings don't care about voting as much as their elders.”
At the Kent State East Liverpool Campus, a “mock” presidential election held this week by student government supports that notion. Out of 900 or so students, only 37 were willing to vote. Many actively “refused” to participate when asked. Of the 37 student voters, McCain pulled 49 percent, Obama 43 percent. When faculty/staff votes are included in the mix, the tide shifts to Obama with 59 percent to McCain’s 36 percent.
If anything, the informal data gathered at the East Liverpool campus show that very few of our young people take part in the political process. Those who do favor McCain for president, while faculty and staff overwhelmingly favor Obama (79 to 21 percent).
