Younger Voters Come Through

MSNBC: Early reports are indicating that the youngest members of the country's electorate voted Tuesday in higher numbers than in the last presidential election — and they voted more Democratic. Youth turnout appears to be exceeding 2004 levels, which was itself a year with a big surge in voters ages 18 to 29.

“We expected record turnout, and that is what we’re seeing right now,” says Heather Smith, a spokeswoman for Rock the Vote, an organization that works to encourage young people to register and vote in every election.

What’s more, young voters may prove to have been the key to Barack Obama's victory. Young voters preferred Obama over John McCain by 68 to 30 percent — the highest share of the youth vote obtained by any candidate since exit polls began reporting results by age in 1976, according to CIRCLE, a non-partisan organization which promotes research on the political engagement of Americans between ages 15 and 25.

Rock the Vote: 1.6 Million Voter Registrations Downloaded

Young voters are going to save the day -- if they come out to vote.

AZ Central: Rock the Vote officials say that 1.6 million people have downloaded voter-registration forms from the group's Web site, up from 1 million during the 2004 presidential election. It's unknown, however, how many people who download forms will follow through and register. Eighty-six percent of those polled said they were likely to vote in the presidential election.

Young-adult voter turnout was up in 2004, jumping to 49 percent from 40 percent in the 2000 election. Although not a record, it was the biggest percentage turnout since 1992 when 52 percent showed up at the polls.

"Our biggest registration weeks are yet to come," said Heather Smith, Rock the Vote executive director. "Most people register as we get closer and closer to the election."

Arizona's registration deadline for the Nov. 4 general election is midnight Oct. 6.

Rock the Vote is a national organization dedicated to getting more young voters to the polls using music, popular culture and new technologies to grab their attention.