I reallly do not want to hear expressed again what Hunter S Thompson said about the youth vote in 2004 after Kerry lost.
"We rocked the vote all right. Those little bastards betrayed us again."
Or see the realization of James Carville's sentiment who said " Show me a candidate who depends on the youth vote and I'll show you a loser."
The most discouraging words about early voting is that the "youth vote" still hasn't shown up.
Obama may win without a heavy youth vote but it sure would help.
So what suggestions are there to get the 18-25 year olds to vote?
A few starter suggestions below. All others are welcome.
--- College professors should declare a "Vote for Your Future Day" and excuse all students from their lectures if they produce a voting ticket at the next class.
--- College town merchants (with the help of Obama supporters) could offer free pizza slices, or burgers, or fries, or coffee or I-tune songs or whatever, -- to all voters who bring in a voting stub.
--- "Where's Your Ticket or Get Hasseled Day". Students at campuses should badger without mercy friends who do not have their voting tickets pinned to the clothes with relentless questions about when they plan to vote. No other friendly communication permitted until the vote is made.
--- Parents should threaten withold all funds to students who do not prove they voted.
At the very least if you plan to throw an Obama election party make sure everyone produces a voting ticket. Young people will definately plan on showing up for the party.
Something has to work. Bribery may be the only way.
Of course this is all generalization. The youth that do vote whether they are alone or amognst a record turnout deserve all the praise that any voter deserves.
Update
OK. The sensible suggestions improve on my cynical bribery suggestions. It's the responsibity of all of us who associate with young voters, (whether were in the youth group or not) to make an extra effort to get those who are often first-time-voters to learn where they need to go and, if they don't vote early, to plan Nov. 4 ahead of time so the voting routine --which is automatic for many of us -- gets started.