Misspent Youth: An Analysis of the Youth Vote in America

In 1971 the voting franchise in America was extended to cover all citizens aged eighteen and older. Politicians often cite young people as being the future of the nation and an example of what the promise of America has to offer the next generation. Rep. Richard Gephardt once declared that, 'The most important thing we have to do is invest in the mental capacity of young people.'^ However, the stigma surrounding the notion that youth cannot be counted on to cast their votes on Election Day has created an uneasy disconnect between elected officials and the youngest sector of the American populace. The notion that young Americans fail to turnout the vote in elections has been a long standing facet of American politics.