She’ll be 18 in August, so she’ll get to vote in what will be a “Wave” election if we work hard enough this year.
The only way to guarantee a wave is through massive voter registration. The polls now, e.g., the generic ballot, are based on past electorates. Expand that electorate and you can add points for the good guys in those polls. That includes massive registration of all ages, but particularly young people, who when they vote, are strongly Democratic.
These are the first of the “Post-Millennials” to reach voting age. (There doesn’t yet seem to be a name for their cohort. How about “The Posters”? Has a ring, no?)
My “Poster” daughter and her (also Poster) sister have become very politically active and interested — and not just because of my influence. They’ve done papers on voter suppression, the Nunes “memo” and other topics and now can’t wait to vote. [Obligatory choked up comment about how I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since they toddled into the voting booth with me and I explained what was going on. Sniff.] Now they insist I watch every video mocking Trump et al., including the ghastly “wind blows hair up, disgusting millions” clip. (Thanks a lot, girls.)
My daughter registered as part of a school registration program, which raised these questions for me:
How many schools have a program like that?
How are they organized?
Who is doing the organizing?
How often is it done?
Who in liberal and Democratic groups is coordinating it:
- Nationally
- By state
- By Congressional District
- By School District
Students’ motivation should have some effect on their parents, encouraging them to get off their asses couches to register and vote.
90for90.org and other registration groups can inspire this effort.
Rock the Vote has a guide for registration efforts.
So does The League of Women Voters.
First time voters can help change this country.
Go Posters!