My push for the youth vote

photo via Flickr under Creative Commons license

photo via Flickr under Creative Commons license

Matt Engel, Staff Writer

Watching the close results of the Iowa caucuses last week reminded me of one thing: Every vote counts. For many people, especially teens who have never voted before, the prospect of voting is confusing, and maybe even a little scary, which is why youth turnout at recent elections has been low. According to The Huffington Post only about 50 percent of people ages 18 to 29 voted in the 2008 and 2012 elections, due in part to a series of stricter voting laws requiring certain forms of identification, but also, I assume, because of a general lack of education. Just 36 percent of non college-educated young people (18 to 29) voted in the 2012 election, compared to 63 percent of college-educated young people. But with the slim margin in the primaries, young people have a chance to make a major impact in the presidential elections. Back in the 2012 election, the youth vote managed to help President Obama win reelection; he won 67 percent of the youth vote, compared to just 30 percent for Mitt Romney.

So for the young people reading this, here are a few things to know:

. You can register to vote at age 17 in New Jersey, as long as you will be 18 by the Presidential Election on November 8.

. You can use your NJ driver’s license, Military or other Government ID, Student or Job ID, Store Membership Card, United States Passport, as voter ID.

. You can call the NJ Division of Elections at (609)-292-3760 if you have any questions.
So, to the youth voters in New Jersey, now is your chance to make an impact on who our great country’s next leader is. Take advantage of it.