Elvert Barnes

I’ve always been skeptical of the emphasis some prognosticators put on early voting. There are just too many variables that could go wrong and too many things we don’t know about who and what those votes represent. But I have to say that it’s hard to ignore numbers like this:

18-29 year old turnout in early voting, compared to this point in 2014, is:

– 5x higher in Texas

– 5x higher in Nevada

– 4x higher in Georgia

– 3x higher in Arizonahttps://t.co/58E7PHqobF — Reid Wilson (@PoliticsReid) November 1, 2018

That certainly doesn’t guarantee that a blue wave is coming. But here’s one thing I know for sure: It is the first step that needs to happen for a blue wave to materialize.

To take it to the next level, there are some amazing initiatives that young people are spearheading. For example, this video was released on Thursday:

But even more importantly, young people are organizing a walkout on election day.

At 10 am on Election Day, students in high schools and colleges across the country will walk out of class and march to the polls to cheer each other on as those eligible cast their votes. Even if students aren’t old enough to vote, they are still encouraged to lead and participate in the walkout to help make our message heard. By bringing together young people across communities, issues, and organizations, organizers intend to send a strong message to politicians and the country that young people are unified in demanding action on issues like gun violence, racial injustice, climate change, and economic equality. Kids may only be 25 percent of the country’s population, but they’re 100 percent of the future. There are more than 500 school walkouts currently scheduled coast to coast.

You can learn more about #WalkOutToVote at their web site. I’d encourage everyone to share that link with all of the young people you know.

I understand why so many people are doubtful that young people will get out to vote this time. If history is any guide, they are right. But I don’t remember a midterm election in my lifetime where these kinds of things were happening. To put it in the words some of us oldies will remember, “There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.”