Casting a vote for the next generation
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

In 2004, Oregon and Kansas shared a last-place dishonorable mention for having the largest gap in turnout between younger and older voters. A whopping 28 percent more older voters cast ballots in Oregon that year than did younger ones. In a state with such an accomplished history of citizen involvement, that fact signaled an alarming generational shift in civic engagement. Participatory government only works with participants.

Oregon needs a plan for engaging its young citizens as voters, as volunteers, as board members and candidates for elected office. Nothing less than the future of the state is riding on it. Historically, overall voter turnout in Oregon has been a benchmark of success. And it’s no surprise that high levels of voter turnout translate into high levels of citizenship in other areas, too — from addressing flooding at Johnson Creek to passing landmark citizen legislation through the ballot initiative process.

But 2008 has been the year of the young voter across the nation, and it could be the beginning of a new trend in Oregon, as well. After two consecutive national elections with increased youth turnout, this year has seen unprecedented turnout levels in the primaries (youth turnout has doubled, tripled, even quadrupled in some states). That represents a special opportunity to engage young voters in Oregon, and for keeping them engaged beyond the election.

Oregon’s young people are poised to make a key impact in today’s primary, and it looks like they know it. So far this year, four times more young people than any other age group have registered to vote for the first time, accounting for more than half of all new registrations. As reported in a recent story in The Oregonian, this group could very well affect the state’s politics for years to come.

But the political engagement of this “millennial generation” cannot begin and end with a frenzied presidential contest. We must set our sights past November, and farther down the ballot than the presidential bubble. The cultural and institutional challenges of voter access and inadequate civic education that have for so long discouraged youth participation will persist, and they will be ours to face together.

The Bus Project is working to address these challenges through volunteer engagement and fun events such as Trick-or-Vote, young leader trainings and voter advocacy, such as support for a bill passed last year that allows teenagers to register to vote as soon as they turn 17. But as Oregonians we must also re-examine how vote-by-mail works for young voters, who move frequently. Policies to consider: same-day registration, which according to the Pew Charitable Trusts is the best way to increase participation; subsidized stamps; online registration such as in Washington state; and organized mock elections and voter drives in public schools.

And government is not the only solution. Foundations and nonprofit organizations and schools should be looking for ways to include youth engagement in their focus.

Although today’s primary will have its winners and losers, one of the winners we should be celebrating already is that more than 43,000 young Oregonians registered to vote for the first time. Regardless of the outcomes today, or for that matter in November, Oregon has an opportunity to cast a meaningful (metaphorical) vote this year — to prioritize the next generation.

We’re ready.

Caitlin Baggott is director of the Bus Project Foundation. Alex Aronson is youth vote director for the foundation.