Gerald Witt reports in the N&R that more people under the age of 25 have registered to vote in Guilford County this year than the total number in all age groups registering in the same period four years ago.
Of the 4,988 new registrations in the first two months of this year in Guilford County, 1,863 are from people younger than 25.
The difference over the last presidential cycle is huge. In 2004, there were 1,758 new registrations in the first two months, with 532 from 18- to 25-year-olds.
Registration drives on college campuses are just getting started.
The story doesn't break down new registration by party which is a big drawback considering it is couched in terms of favoring Democrats but doesn't give the actual numbers.
Posted by: Spag | Mar 09, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Call me crazy but I don't think the majority of those 1863 under 25 voters are going to mark their ballot for a 72 year old candidate. It's obvious who the majority of that segment of new voters are either voting for Clinton or Obama. And since the influx of progressives to NC has been ever increasing since the last election, I think it's pretty safe to assume the overall majority of those new registrations are democratic. I could be wrong however.
Posted by: Ged Maheux | Mar 09, 2008 at 12:43 PM
The numbers I've seen reported elsewhere do indicate that younger voters skew Democratic, but I don't think that's the point or the implication of this article, although it does quote a lot of people who would seem to lean Democratic.
Posted by: Ed Cone | Mar 09, 2008 at 01:06 PM
I'm glad young people are registering (no matter which affiliation). But what matters is if they VOTE. Historically, under 25s have a lot of eagerness during campaigns but don't show up at the polls. Let's hope that gets left to an historical footnote and this election starts a new trend of more people voting.
Posted by: Sue | Mar 09, 2008 at 01:58 PM
The simple fact of the matter is that we're not seeing record numbers of new voters registering to help promote and continue the failed policies of the Bush administration. We're seeing people come out of the wood work for change and that means a Democratic ticket. We've discussed this before and I fully see it happening with each and every primary to date. North Carolina will finally be able to have a say in this process and I can't wait. It's the one time when my blue vote counts for something in this deeply red state.
Posted by: Ged Maheux | Mar 09, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Anecdotes and prevailing wisdom suggest that young voters and new voters trend Democratic, but Sam makes a valid point about the lack of info in the story on party registrations. Sue's comment is well-taken, too.
Posted by: Ed Cone | Mar 09, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Ged, you are probably right about the makeup but only the real numbers can confirm your thesis. That was my only point. Well that, and that the story was couched in terms to imply a Democratic surge in registration but didn't have the numbers. It would something if it turned out registration was fairly even. It probably isn't, but the numbers should have been in the story as evidence.
Posted by: Spag | Mar 09, 2008 at 04:44 PM
"It probably isn't, but the numbers should have been in the story as evidence."
Point take and totally true. Hopefully they'll be provided eventually one way or another.
Posted by: Ged Maheux | Mar 09, 2008 at 11:46 PM