With voters under the age of 30 constituting 17 percent of caucus-goers last week in Iowa-up 9 percent from four years ago-the youth vote is shaping up to be a vital component in the 2004 presidential election.
What does Howard Dean’s surprising loss in Iowa-someone who has strongly courted the youth vote-mean for his chances in New Hampshire? Will the hot-button issues of this election year-the war in Iraq, the economy and the national employment rate among them-resonate with younger voters?
VanderVotes, an initiative to increase voter registration and political awareness among Vanderbilt students, will conduct viewing parties across campus for Tuesday’s New Hampshire Democratic primary. Beginning at 7 p.m., students will gather at Gillette Hall on Vanderbilt’s Peabody campus to watch returns and discuss what factors will influence their decision when heading to the polls.
VanderVotes plans to conduct viewing parties for the voting primaries each Tuesday evening in February. During a three-day registration drive in December, the group registered 60 new voters and will continue its efforts throughout the spring.
WHAT: Viewing party for the New Hampshire presidential primary returns
WHERE: Gillette Hall on the Peabody campus, South Drive off 18th Avenue South
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m.
Media contact: Kara Furlong, (615) 322-NEWS
Kara.c.furlong@vanderbilt.edu