Cuz I like to party

The 1840 election was historical in that it marks the highest turn out of eligible voters voting. With over 80% voting its easy to assume that people of all ages were at the polls. At the same time, the election of 1840 was different in that it showcased heavy drinking and partying as hard cider became the staple in the election. The election was more about parade bbq’s and having fun than it was about the issues and people joined in, in record numbers. This election gave us the term “keep the ball rollin” as Harrison supporters would literally roll giants balls down the street, I would imagine that the hard cider played a role in the discovery of this pass time. I would also find it hard to believe that anyone over thirty years of age came up with the idea. In the end, the party that partied the hardiest won the election with a Whig and Harrison victory.
It has become rare in the current era for election turnout to reach much over 60% and with that America has seen a collectively apathetic attitude among young voters when it comes to elections. This year seems to be different, politico.com news reports that, “By recent historical standards, youth turnout is having a banner year. In every primary or caucus so far the youth turnout percentage has been the same or — almost always — greater than it was four or eight years ago.”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8418.html. Also, sites meant to rally the youth vote are popping up every where including Declareyourself.com, which in one article illustrates the youth attitude, “Nina Fuentes, 21, explained her draw to the presidential process: "They say young people are apathetic. Well, he's bringing us into the process. He's offering inspiration and hope that we can make a difference. . . . What I like is that his success is coming from grass roots, from the bottom up“." With the youth vote, comes the reintroduction of the party atmosphere into politics. I can’t find the article but I read on CNN that this primary season has broke the records for donuts given out, which is the best you can hope for since alcohol is no longer provided by the parties. Also, rallies around the country, particularly for Obama have seen enthusiastic crowds, including young Americans, that seem to be enjoying themselves more than usual.
Who knows whether the party-party which seems to be camp Obama at this point will actually win, or what influence the youth vote will have on who becomes our president. But if this election is anything like 1840 then we should see a big turnout among not only young Americans but all voters as a whole.