Young Voters Elect Obama

Wow... I'm amazed and grinning from ear to ear. Young voters put Obama over the top in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado. Colorado - specifically, took out an incumbent Republican US Senator, and a conservative Representative as well as electing a very young Congressman in Boulder.



This will be the beginning of some amazing youth power in this country.

From the very very early traditionally unreliable exit polls we show young voters favor Obama 68 - 30% and make up 18% Share of the Electorate. By contrast - and this is in no way a competition or anything 65+ voters were 16% of the share.

Share numbers, however, are bad bad numbers to go by because they belittle the actual numbers and don't look at increases or decreases. So, while these are good numbers to look at early on, examining a share isn't where we should focus.

CIRCLE released data showing young voters are chose Obama by 38 percentage points - towards the upper end of all the polling we saw this year.

" Young voters preferred Obama

Young voters diverged sharply from the population as a whole, preferring Obama/Biden over McCain/Palin by 68% to 30% in the NEP. This is by far the highest share of the youth vote obtained by any candidate since exit polls began reporting results by age categories in 1976. In past elections from 1976 through 2004, young voters diverged by an average of only 1.8 percentage points from the popular vote as a whole. 2004 had set the previous record for an age gap."

This election was hands down won because of young voters who pushed major swing states over the top. Without them Obama would not have won Iowa and he wouldn't have won last night.

Only HOPE!

The day went well. As I still attend class. The weather was very peculiar but I was very happy of what is going down. I helped organize the biggest event in Northland College History and we had musical performances. And then we saw the election live! More than enough people Voted! Which is amazing!

The best feeling was that people literally rocked the Vote! They went outside and went inside the polls and enjoyed working on that privilege.

The President Elect is: BARACK OBAMA

Riding down the street to cover the election watch party held by the McCain campaign I heard screaming and shouts coming from cars. Horns were being held, people were hanging out of their cars and "change" was chanted. I knew at that very moment: Barack Obama won the election.

Racing to my computer to get the breaking news, I was side tracked by Young Jeezy's song, "My President is Black." I don't know if he foreshadowed something many didn't see, but what ever the circumstance is Barack Obama won and many people are going crazy nationwide.

In CNN's projection, Obama won 338 to McCain's 155 electoral vote.


History has been made. It will be a night of celebration for most.

" The dream is still alive," one person chanted. A text message fled my inbox saying: "Rosa sat so King could march. King marched so Obama could run. Obama ran so you can fly.

Weather you were for McCain or Obama, change begins with you. Put on your gear and fly to your own destination. Make this term about you...the people. The government should be for the people and by the people, and it will be with your help.

Country first or last. Change good or bad....You make it happen.

Election Coverage at Florida State University (FSU)

Check out the footage I gathered from Florida State University.



The youth voice is powerful this election season and the young voters in this piece gives you a piece of their mind!

It's Like A Parade- North Minneapolis Stand Up!!

Photos by B FRESH Photography

12:30 p.m. On our way to Minneapolis, Robina Rai and I saw MN Senate candidate Al Franken and his rock star bus on Dale in St. Paul, so we stopped for a quick chat. He told us that young people need to know that the system will work, despite the last 8 years of the Bush administration.

1:00 p.m. Rene Brasseur and Diane Tran, from Smoke-Free Dakota, an organization working around smoking issues in workplace, have come to volunteer at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, serving as headquarters for the Election Day Community Coalition get-out-the-vote efforts. The duo’s daily work involves getting people engaged and educating the community, so this partnership was a match made in heaven.

2:00 p.m. Jennifer Risen of Every Child Matters greets volunteers at the registration table. The Election Day Community Coalition is a non-partisan coalition that has been working tirelessly to get people involved and out to the polls today. The coalition is made up of over 30 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of MN, Family and Children Services, The Urban League, The League of Women Voters, and the Joint Religious Coalition, among many others.
Risen tells a volunteer that going out canvassing, or “face-to-face contact” as she says, “is the number one most effective way to get people out to vote.” Their efforts today include poll watching, visibility, canvassing and phone calls.

3:00 p.m. Outside, the mother and daughter tag-team, Amber English and Freddie Davis-English, who are currently living in Plymouth, Minnesota, just returned from doing visibility. They went to a busy intersection on Broadway with the sign “Voting Questions? Ask Me” and people were pulling over to tell them they voted, and someone even did a U-turn to ask a question. The craziest question came from a man who needed to register today, and he only had his mortgage statement, that was addressed to a P.O. Box, which wouldn’t be sufficient identification, because the mail needs to verify residency at a specific address. MN is one state that has same day registration.

Freddie recalled being at the University of Minnesota during the election of Jimmy Carter, and the energy that she experienced. Nothing compares to the energy she felt among young people today, November 4, 2008. She and her daughter believe more voter education needs to be done, especially around the fact that you can’t vote in any precinct you want.

4:00 p.m. Ty McCoy, Shortybuff, William Hambrick, AKA Big Chop and Lawrence Battles pose in front of Clipper Cuts Barber Shop on Broadway in North Minneapolis. Shortybuff, recognized that the people in the neighborhood are smiling and happy, but he asks the rhetorical question, “How long?” He passionately follows up, “We are a threat when we are united as one” but his colleague said that he thinks everything will be fine tomorrow.

Ty, a barber at the shop says, “I am not for black/white, but for what’s right.” The barbershop didn’t just jump on the Election Day bandwagon today, but have had the voting signs for months now. People actually have mistaken the shop for the Obama headquarters down the street.

Barbershops across the country serve an important role in the community. Clipper Cuts has been a one-stop shop for everyone’s needs, hair and otherwise. Not only can you get your hair lookin’ right, but you can learn how to vote, talk about your relationship issues, and find counsel in the barbers. Oftentimes, the barbershop serves as a first-stop for people getting out of lockup. When you get out, you want to get your hair and clothes right, and you, in turn, get the right information about felonies and voting, which is different from state to state.

5:00 p.m. I head screams coming from people standing in the streets: “This is the day to celebrate!!” and holding signs that said ‘VOTE TODAY.’ A car passed by with a cardboard Obama hangin’ out the sunroof. Local elementary students who just got out of school lined the street holding voting signs.

Dawn Davis, Chief Operating Officer of Emerge Community Development, a non-profit organization trying to get people out to vote, yelled, “Vote today” on the microphone as cars passed by on Broadway. Honking was coming from every direction. The mood was intense!

6:00 p.m. Robina Rai and Judy Takkunen volunteered as poll watchers at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, in North Minneapolis’ Precinct 7, Ward 5. They ran out of same day voter registration cards, so the judges ordered more from the headquarters. Robina stopped a man who leaving the premise that was challenged by the election judges about his registration. She got him the right information and he was able to vote. Her adventures at the community center also led her to meet a 41 year old first time voter. She reflects, “A lot of first-time, immigrant voters were so excited and feeling very satisfied, having a smooth voting experience.”

Alex Bajwa, a challenger for the Obama Legal Team, shared with me that this particular polling location site was having “phenomenal turnout” and that “no one had been turned away.” There were more new registrants voting than old registrants, hence running out of registration cards.

7:00 p.m. The polls are starting to roll in, as polling sites have closed in 24 states. The activities at the Capri Theater are starting to come to a close.

I still hear the excitement outside, with people saying, “It’s like a parade!” Cars rolled around the hood all day, bumpin’ music with signs taped to ever side of the vehicle. I have never seen energy like this around an election. This will be an election of a lifetime, but I hope the energy sticks around.

Cusp of Revolution....

I’m in the hotel room. Things here are still. Last night at the Tenacious D and Beastie Boys' show people kept saying “I cant believe tomorrow is the day!’’ Well, now tomorrow is today and no mater how you look at it America we are on the cusp of revolution...thousands of us have already voted and some have waited in "star wars" like line’s just to get to the voting booth. And today thousands more will.

Some events like 911 and Katrina, really made us look at ourselves deeply to the core, as who we are as a nation and who we want to be. I think to day will be one of those days…

This morning Obama and McCain woke up just like you and I and tonight one of them will go to sleep having made history…how exciting!

DonnY-

Young People In Full Force- Minnesota Represent!!!!

November 4, 2008

Photos by B FRESH Photography

7 a.m. At the University Avenue bus stop in St. Paul, Minnesota, Robina Rai continued her Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts from the night before. She is not a citizen, but has been active in the 2004, and now, the 2008 elections with the League of Young Voters, or as they say in the Twin Cities, the League of Pissed Off Voters. She took the number 16 from St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis, getting off at the University of Minnesota campus and Nicollet Mall, making sure people are getting out to vote, and are informed about the candidates. The League put together voter guides for cities across the country, which can be found online at www.theballot.org.

8 a.m. Nellie Brau, on her way to class to take a test, chose to represent her excitement about this year’s election with her American flag scarf. Zubair Saiyed was campaigning on a busy corner of campus for Obama, letting people know he thinks MN needs change. All over town, people on their way to class and work were greeted with the morning dew, and political flyers from the previous night’s “Midnight Madness” flyering efforts.

9 a.m. On Nicollett Mall, Malissa Mallory, a special education teacher who was recently laid off, was on her way to get health insurance, vote and then go volunteer and make sure people are getting out to vote today.

9:30 a.m. Deangelo Jacox was on his way to school at Studio 4/High School for Recording Arts. He is not old enough to vote yet, but can’t wait until the next election.

10:00 a.m. Franklin Delano- Nothing is an anarchist who believes people can organize and make change, even without a leader. He might vote today for the State Referenda on Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage & natural Areas (AKA Vote Yes Minnesota), but he will not be voting for any individual person.

10:30 a.m. Robina makes her way back to University Avenue and gets off the bus at the Plasma Services building, where a line has formed to donate plasma for money. She makes her way up the line, making sure people know where to vote and that they can register at the polls today, because MN has same day registration. Today, she will also be poll watching with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Minneapolis. The ACLU is part of a coalition of organizations that are making sure everything runs smoothly across the country today.

11:00 a.m. I finally make it to my voting location to cast my ballot. This is what I have been working towards for months and months. I can’t wait until this day is over, so I don’t have to see another nasty political advertisement on TV. I got my sticker, and checked out the ballot where kids can vote, too!

I Voted

Great Voting Experience!







Lawrence, Kansas! Rock Chawk go Barack - one voter told me

Number 156

In the small town of Ashland, WI , I was number 156 to VOTE! I had a smile from cheek to cheek and it felt amazing. I along with 2 other Northland College student first time voters were ecstatic about VOTING! The way I feel cannot compare to any other feeling I have had in my lifetime. As I darkened the bubble of the future president of the United States, I knew that I was living history as we know it. I know, I know, I have been saying that for almost every time, but I know that the time has come. The journey of the campaigns, the journey of the message and the journey of the politicians comes to an end today. I must say that it made me very happy to see the about 9 parties running for Presidency. I was really excited to see 2 Latino names in that ballot. The most important thing is that this journey has only just begun! Especially for this next generation! And so I tell you to VOTE! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. When you VOTE, you vote for me, for your best friend, for your mom and dad, for your brothers and sisters. You vote for your community! Voting is your Right.... it is your DUTY!