new voter registration among young people in crucial states is accelerating

[Demovictory9]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/20/us/politics/young-voters-registration-parkland.html?&hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Young People Keep Marching After Parkland, This Time to Register to Vote

WASHINGTON — The pace of new voter registrations among young people in crucial states is accelerating, a signal that school shootings this year — and the anger and political organizing in their wake — may prove to be more than ephemeral displays of activism.

They could even help shape the outcome of the midterm elections. If voters in their teens and 20s vote in greater numbers than usual, as many promised during nationwide marches for gun control this spring, the groundswell could affect close races in key states like Arizona and Florida, where there will be competitive races for governor, the Senate and a number of House districts in November.

The deadly shooting on Friday at Santa Fe High School in Texas will probably add urgency to the efforts. Hours after the carnage, young organizers mobilized by the February mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., were vowing a political response.

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Voter data for March and April show that young registrants represented a higher portion of new voters in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, among other states. In Florida, voters under 26 jumped from less than 20 percent of new registrants in January and February to nearly 30 percent by March, the month of the gun control rallies. That ticked down to about 25 percent in April, as the demonstrations subsided, but registration of young voters remained above the pace set before 17 students and faculty were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

In North Carolina, voters under 25 represented around 30 percent of new registrations in January and February; in March and April, they were around 40 percent.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/20/us/politics/young-voters-registration-parkland.html

[elocs]

1. But will they actually show up and vote?

If they don't it will be hard for them to be taken seriously again. We will know for sure after November.

[BlueJac]

2. Yes

the voting is what counts! We can only hope!

[Silver Gaia]

5. It occurs to me that maybe what we are seeing is

the death (or close enough) of the coolness factor of teenage apathy. For far too long, being aloof and apathetic has been "cool." If it has now become cool to be politically involved and to participate in marches and protests, then going to the polls to vote and getting to wear that little "I voted" sticker will become majorly cool things to do. The Parkland kids have definitely raised the coolness factor quite a few notches, and they are currently pushing voter registration drives. I have no doubt they are going to raise the coolness factor of showing up to vote, too. I do believe it's gonna happen. It's the logical extension of what these kids are saying and doing right now.

[mountain grammy]

8. Yes, I love this.

Make it cool to vote. Make it cool to participate. Our very lives depend on we the people taking over.

[Silver Gaia]

14. You are so correct, grammy!

[calimary]

11. That's the one biggest thing these Parkland kids changed.

What’s the first thing they did after that horrifying real-life nightmare they all endured? Please note they DID NOT hold some candlelight vigil. They went straight to activism. They seized the moment NOT to celebrate victimhood and look inward and embrace their pain. Instead, they shifted to “what can we DO about it???”

They embraced empowerment. And activism. And defiance. And resolve. And not just sitting huddled in groups and crying together like frightened wounded victims. They took a stand to refuse delivery on victimhood. They looked outward, not inward. That is a huge change! And I think that’s what’s electrified this movement they’ve created.

If they can hold onto that, then we will ALL triumph! November will tell the story, for certain.

[Silver Gaia]

13. I agree. I love them with all my heart for this.

I also admire and RESPECT them. They are the future.

[Demovictory9]

12. even with low voting rates, the more registered, the more voting

[beachbum bob]

3. we need this in ALL states and then an effective GOTV effort...

imagine if 2 or 3 million (or more) 21 and under new voters and 30% of them vote, the huge impact that will have on races that currently toss up or lean republican?? As 75-80% of the vote would be for democrats at least?

Imagine the size of the blue tidal wave if those number of new voters go up to 4 or 5 million and 50% of them vote? Add in new under 25 voters and votes

the impact would be historic across america

[crazycatlady]

16. GOTV among under 25 is harder than typical GOTV

Hard to phone bank them as they don't use landlines (built in caller ID) and many of them live in dorms or apartment buildings that an outsider can't get into.

[mountain grammy]

4. The Parkland kids are on it..

Sadly, there are many survivors out there that have experienced the unimaginable. The Parkland students are leading the way and schooling the nation on how we the people have the power, we just have to know it.

[Silver Gaia]

6. Yep. I just made a similar statement above.

These kids have great hearts and are filled with integrity. They are inspiring other kids (and adults, too!). They will follow through on this.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Great news!

[UCmeNdc]

9. K&R

[Honeycombe8]

10. K&R. Make the blue wave huge. nt

[Vinca]

15. I really, really hope the newly-minted activists will save our country from guns.

There has to be a point where their votes outnumber the crazies. It's a shame previous generations have failed them.