Public Employee Press

2012 ELECTION
Young unionists fired up for the election


By JOSEPH LOPEZ

Unionists under the age of 30 look to "rock the vote" one more time for President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election.

The youth vote and an increase in participation of voters age 18 to 29 helped usher Obama into the White House in 2008. And if the young voters have it their way this time, it will be four more years for Obama.

In the 2008 presidential election, the promises of "Hope" and "Change" brought young voters to the polls in waves. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement of Tufts University, the number of voters under the age of 30 was 23 million in 2008, 3.4 million more than in the 2004 election. Eighteen percent of all voters fell in this age range. Of these, 66 percent voted for Obama.

Young union activists are eager to make sure Obama has the chance to "finish what we started," as Obama put it at an Aug. 28 rally at Iowa State University in Ames.

"Obama is fighting to save our jobs now and for our future," said Natasha Isma, chair of the Local 1549 Next Wave Committee. "He's pro the middle and working class, so why would I not vote for someone who is for me?" she said.

The Next Wave Committee of Local 371 has strongly pushed for an increase in voters through various voter registration drives.

Over two events this summer, the Local 371 Next Wave registered 111 new voters. They are planning another registration drive in October. "The momentum is there," said Orlando Rivera, one of Local 371's four Next Wave co-chairs. "Every vote counts!"

The four co-chairs of Local 371's Next Wave said they support Obama because he supports public workers. Obama's commitment to continuing to fight for their issues inspires them to stand together in solidarity and feel proud to be public employees, they said.

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