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Youth turnout this year is up an unprecedented 2.3 million have registered to vote, the largest jump of any age group. After we saw large increases in 2004 and 2006 many wondered, if this year 2008, would see the same drive. The energy level is up and these young voters increased in every state’s primary and caucus, even doubling and tripling in many. Overall, the number of young voters between 18-29 years old in 2008 is 103% more than in the previous set of primary elections.

There’s always talk about the impact young voters could have in choosing the next president. But this truly could be a breakout year for them. Among the factors: nearly 2-to-1 support for Barack Obama among 18- to 29-year-olds and a seasoned get-out-the-vote effort that has seen young voter participation steadily rising since 2000. An AP-Yahoo News Poll conducted earlier this month found that, among 18- to 29-year-old likely voters, 60 percent supported Obama, 33 percent John McCain and 5 percent Ralph Nader.

Not only are young voters increasing in larger numbers, they are also increasing their presence at the polls more than the older voters.

A group of voters who’ve historically been pegged as Election Day wild cards, but who’ve also shown they can be counted on — helping get both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton elected, for instance.

If these group of voters show up at the polls – with a large voter turnout this year – that would give Obama a huge advantage in many swing states.

That’s especially true in key swing states, such as Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In North Carolina, for instance, the most recent tally available shows 579,858 new registrants who are eligible to vote this year. Many of them 20somethings, they represent about 9 percent of the state’s registered voters and could be a difference-maker in a close race, particularly if they support one candidate more heavily than another.

Access and false information in fliers are key problems that we have seen across the nation.

“Young voters don’t suffer from a lack of interest. They suffer from a lack of access,” Segal says. In this election, he’s heard complaints about everything from difficult registration requirements to fliers that falsely tell college students they’ll lose their student loans if they don’t vote in their home state.

That is why groups around the nation have formed to help solve these problems – these groups include Save and Rock the Vote. They make sure the right information gets out to young voters, that they have access to register, and to resolve the problem of a polling place to vote. Some colleges and universities have taken the initiative to provide transportation to students so that they can vote off campus. To learn more about Rock the Vote and their programs, here is the link. Every vote counts in this election – the wrong vote is not voting at all.