Berkeley

1414 University Avenue, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 843-8824 Fax (510) 843-8828 Email us

Why should people vote, and why do so many choose not to do so?

If you think voting doesn't matter, read "If Ya Don't Vote, Ya Don't Matter", published in the Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2006.  Also take a look at the "Why don't we vote?" essay contest. This contest was sponsored by the Center for Voting and Democracy in 1999.  There you can read essays written by young people from across the nation as they attempt to answer the question, "Political participation by young people is plummeting. What changes in our electoral system would increase political participation by young people and why is that important to you and people like you?".  Along the same line, take a look at The Vanishing Voter Project, the work of Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.

Judy Woodruff, formerly with CNN and once again with PBS' NewsHour, has begun work on a documentary examining the perspectives of young people on politics, voting and politicians.  Titled Generation Next, a report from it appeared on the October 25, 2006 NewsHour broadcast.  On that report page, you'll find a link to a progress report on the documentary as it is being made.