Elections 2008
Youth-Voting Consultant Discusses Youth Vote in Election 2008
(Ask America webchat transcript, October 28) (2989)
Veronica E. De La Garza, an independent consultant in the fields of youth civic engagement, Hispanic professional and businesswomen's development, and nonprofit management, answered questions in an October 28 webchat on the youth vote in Election 2008.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs Ask America Webchat Transcript
Elections 2008: The Youth Vote
Guest: Veronica De La Garza
Date: October 28, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. EDT (13:00 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to today's webchat! We'll begin the discussion at the top of the hour. You are welcome to send in your questions now. This chat will begin today, October 28, 2008, at 9 a.m. EDT (13:00 GMT)
On this site we are accepting questions for the following webchats: The Youth Vote, Arab-American Voter Outreach, and Elections Night Live!
Some of you have asked about web chatting on Election Day, November 4. We will have live coverage on Election Day starting at 3:00 p.m. EST/20:00 GMT.
Veronica De La Garza: Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you today. We are only a week away from one of the most exciting Elections in US history and youth are in a position to decide the Presidential and many local elections. I look forward to answering questions about the youth vote.
Moderator: We will begin in about 5 minutes. Please continue to submit your questions.
Veronica will now begin answering your questions!
Question [Yasser Khalil]: Hello, Which presidential candidate could obtain the youth support? And why? I would also want to learn from US experience in encouraging youth to be engaged in political participation. We need this in Arab countries, what is your advice as an expert in that field? Thank you, Yasser - Cairo, Egypt
Answer [Veronica De La Garza]: Yassar Thank you for the question. Historically the youth vote is divided among the main US political parties. In 2004 youth self identified as 1/3 Democrat, a 1/3 Republican and a 1/3 Independent or undecided. In Election 2008, young people are voting for Democrats with a margin of 2 to 1. Young people tripled their turnout during the primary elections and over 80% voted with Democrats. Today, a week from the Presidential Election...all polls show that the majority of youth will are supporting Senator Obama for President.
The best advice I can give to youth across the world and in the US is to get involved. This is the first time Presidential Elections have focused so much effort on the youth vote and it is not a coincidence. Youth in the US have had an aggressive campaign the last ten years showing the general public and the political parties in the US that they do register to vote, that they do care, and that they will vote.
Youth Vote Coalition was a campaign that was started ten years ago to change the view of the youth vote in the US. Like many countries, our country also thought youth did not care. Having been part of the youth vote, I knew that was not the case so several organizations working with youth joined forces to register youth to vote in record numbers and made sure they voted. We then shared our information. We worked with the political parties to show them that youth do vote and have the numbers to decide an election.
Q [IRC Cairo]: What role have you played in supporting young people's actions? IRC Cairo
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Hi I have been involved in getting young people politically involved for the last ten years. At first I trained youth how to run a political campaign in their college campus or in their community. The organization I worked for trained young people for 5 intense days on how to run a campaign from start to finish.
I have traveled across the United States talking to youth about the importance of registering to vote and the importance of voting. We have had campaigns throughout the country and when I was the Executive Director of Youth Vote Coalition we created one of the largest campaigns geared at turning out the youth vote in the US with 22 campaigns across the country. I am also involved in organizations in the US who are working to register and turnout the youth vote.
Moderator: Visit America.gov's U.S. ELECTIONS -- Guide to the 2008 Election at http://uspolitics.america.gov/uspolitics/elections/index.html
Q [amandine]: i would like to know how someone can be president without the majority?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Great question! The US has a system called the Electoral College. Each state has a number of votes they have depending on their population. Texas and California and New York are some of the most populated states in the US and they have more votes than the less populated states, but it is a system to insure that each states is represented.
I know it is a bit confusing, but depending on how the majority of the state votes, those electoral college votes will go to the Presidential candidate. The US Presidential candidate needs to win at least 170 electoral college votes to win the US Election for US President.
The Electoral College system became famous in 2004 when both of the Presidential candidates needed Florida to win the Presidential election
Moderator: For more information on the Electoral College, please visit America.gov's FAQ on this topic at: http://uspolitics.america.gov/uspolitics/elections/electoralcollege.html
Moderator: America.gov's blog "Campaign Trail Talk" is the place for you to register your comments and thoughts on a variety of topics. Visit the blog at http://blogs.america.gov/campaign/2008/10/21/palin%e2%80%99s-appearance-boosts-comedy-show/
Q [+]: Hi Miss veronica, Do you agree with me that paying attention. The current political climate of global terrorist attacks, a war that is being fought largely by 18-30 year-olds, a difficult job market, making young americans more concerned and engaged? IRC Cairo
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Hi. I do but young people have always been engaged and concerned...the difference is that the number of registered voters and youth political participation in a very close Presidential election is causing the media to also focus on youth when they did not in the past. Young people are worried about the economy because they also feel the results. Like many across the US and the world they are having problems finding jobs that pay them enough to support themselves and pay off debt they may have while attending school.
Q [Assgeo (AAF) 3: (IRC ABIDJAN)]: is American electronic voting system reliable?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: As far as I know, YES. The electronic voting system was part of the Help America Vote Act, commonly referred to as HAVA. Most of the Elections are headed by Secretaries of States in the US and I have been fortunate enough to attend their meetings. They initially showed concern with the electronic voting and have done a lot of research and test to make sure they are safe and effective. Many of the machines offer paper slips as a receipt of your vote and many states also offer individuals the right to vote on a paper ballot. This is for those that are not 100 comfortable with the electronic voting
I voted early and on an electronic machine. I loved the machine and felt secure that my vote was counted.
Q [Lawrence]: how much does the media influence the voters during this election time?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Actually media does influence voters because for many, media is their source of information. Media has the opportunity to both inform and to sway public opinion. In 2004 media was of great help to the youth vote. Many outlets that catered to youth had election coverage on their shows, magazines and TV channels....such as MTV or ESPN.
They also helped inform the political savvy among young voters in this country. We have youth experts on CNN, BBC, etc talking about the youth vote and the fact that youth make up 24%of the voting age population so it was informative. With such a close election in 2008 and such interest there has been a lot more coverage of the Election and the candidates... this helps the American people see and hear the candidates and thus decide. For youth, the internet is also a great mode of information on the election and is seen as a non traditional outlet of information but one that youth use a lot - also because youth use the internet and social networking sites like facebook and myspace to organize and discuss the election and candidates among each other.
Q [IRC Cairo]: What young people are we talking about LOCAL ISSUES OR GLOBAL MATTERS? IRC CAIRO
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Hi, most young people are talking about both. Of most importance to young people is the Presidential election. There a many local issues that are impacting young people's vote for President but as we discussed earlier the media is a great informant but as they focus so much on the Presidential Election there is a concern for all the US electorate that they may not be focusing as much on local elections. When it comes to issues, youth know we live in a global economy and a global world. Some of the major concerns on the economy, environment and safety are all tied to global concerns.
Q [Jose]: What percent of you voters are behind Obama and Mccain?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Hi Jose. The most recent AP/Yahoo poll has 60% of youth supporting Obama, 33% supporting John McCain and 5% Ralph Nadar. I know the numbers do not add up to 100 but because it is a poll they give themselves a little wiggle room. These are numbers a week before the election and the numbers have changed dependent on how much the campaigns are focusing on the youth vote.
This was the first time in history when a year and a half ago when we had a lot of candidates for President....they all had staff focusing on the youth vote. The Youth Directors or advisors on the youth vote have been crucial in having youth support the candidates. You see the numbers reflect the outreach. Both campaigns have staff reaching out to youth and candidates have been on college campuses talking to youth. [Both have been] interviewed by networks that youth watch and magazines that youth read but I do have to say that it is pretty impressive the amount of youth organizers for Obama.
Youth have been doing an excellent job of registering each other to vote and making sure they are involved and educated on the candidates. During our 2008 primaries, 6.5 million young people under the age of 30 participated. The election expects over 25 million young people voting
Q [English teacher Lycée Jean Joseph Rabearivelo]: Is the US prepared to deal with this financial crisis just ahead of the presidential election? I think those in power are partly responsible for this situation, so how will voter assess them? Does the crisis will have an impact on voters' turn out?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Thank you for your question. First I need to share that I am not a financial expert but will share with you what I am seeing the crisis have on the youth vote. Having this financial crisis before our Election is good because as the US prepares to elect our next President we get to ask the candidates about their thoughts, plan and changes. The crisis is having an impact on the election and it is having an impact with many voters who are unhappy with what is happening
In all honesty, most of the US population is still understanding our crisis. Many are aware of the enormity of it but many are trying to understand how we got here and how we as a country can overcome the crisis. As many Americans are facing the results of job loss and home foreclosure, the economy is becoming a bigger and more frequent question to the Presidential candidates as well as the state and local candidates. All Americans (youth, older, women, men, minorities, etc) are concerned and it is a top issue of importance to us and our country.
Q [IRC Cairo]: what about Arab-Americans youth any training or organization help to participation? ALI
Moderator: Thank you for your question IRC Cairo. We will be hosting a chat focused on Arab-American outreach on Oct 30 beginning at 1400 GMT. We hope you will join us.
Q [+]: Cairo;Ali eid; please tell me more about the role of young americans who are non-white in the 2008 election?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Thank you for the question. Youth that are non-white have not participated in voting in the same number as their white friends. If you are looking for statistic numbers please check out www.civicyouth.org but as the youth vote continues to rise so does the vote of non white youth and their civic participation. There are several organizations specifically focused on non white youth but this election has been amazing. The fact is that we had a female candidate running for President, we had a Hispanic candidate running for President, we had a black candidate running for President.
The diversity of our country is being represented in the political process and thus encouraging more non-white youth to participate in the election and encouraging all youth to run as an elected official one day as well. This election has increased all youth civic participation!
Q [Mr. Ramandimbilahatra Malagasy Senator]: In the recent U.S elections there were some problems related to the electoral roll. What measures have been taken to avoid such a thing to happen again?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Great question. There are several things that have happened nationally and locally. The US passes the Help America Vote Act to make sure we had new voting machines and information for all Americans. We also created the Federal Elections Commission but of most importance is that we as a country are making sure our electorate, the US citizen is informed. We expect an unprecedented turnout so many states are offering early voting. Each state and town has phone numbers available to people to call if they have any questions or problems. We are making sure people know where to vote....their polling location, the times there are open, rides if people need them. Schools and work are giving people time off to vote and election information is everywhere....from your school newspaper, to your local tv channel, to flyers. We are making sure everyone has the information they need and that we are explaining the process so there are no surprises
Q [IRC Cairo]: How can we create sustainable opportunities for youth civic engagement?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: What we are sharing with youth is that youth civic engagement in not a one time thing or just defined by a vote on Election day for President.
We are teaching youth the importance that politics plays in their day to day life. One, we want all registered to vote. Two, we want all voting in every election (President, state, local). Three, we are asking youth to become involved...with an issue they care about or with a political party they support, and four, we are asking youth to stay informed about the candidates, their elected official or anything they care about and five...we ask them to use their voice. Do they agree or disagree? We have the power to elect our representatives but the US population also has the right to state their disagreement and we ask youth to hold their elected officials accountable and to remind their elected officials of the campaign promises them make and to make sure the elected officials keep their word.
Q [Gulmira]: what can you say about the youth vote?
A [Veronica De La Garza]: Hi Gulmira. I love the youth vote. I say I love it because youth are the reflection of a nation. We are their energy and their truth. In the US we have a large youth population that is growing and exercising their political muscle. Our youth have the power and the number to decide our next president, our state senators and our local representation. Of most importance youth grew up in a global world with a broader view of our country and our world.
Veronica De La Garza: I am proud of the amount of youth voting in this election, I am proud of the number of youth working on the campaigns and the number of youth organizing these campaigns. A week from today we know youth may be the deciding factor in our election but of most importance is that we as youth continue to work together and communicate to not only insure a better future for ourselves and our families but a better future for all.
Thank you for your time today, for your questions and for your interest in the youth vote!
Moderator: We wish to thank Veronica De La Garza for joining us today. And thank you all for your questions and your participation! Please visit our website for more information on upcoming events and a transcript of today's discussion.
Our next webchat on this site: Ethnic Voting Group Outreach--Arab Americans. The Arab-American community has emerged as a key demographic in the 2008 presidential election.
Please join Maram Abdelhamid, national field and political coordinator for the Arab American Institute (AAI) for a discussion of how Arab Americans could have a major impact in so-called "battleground" states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Florida.
The webchat will take place on this site October 30 beginning at 1400GMT. The webchat is now closed.
Moderator: Guests are chosen for their expertise. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)