UPGRADING THE VOTE
Campaign tries to mobilize youth for gov. race
DIEGO ORTIZ OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: News
President Barack Obama's win last year was one of the most historic events in recent American history, and part of the victory can be attributed to the readers of this paper: the student and youth vote.
In New Jersey alone more than 1.2 million first time voters cast a ballot for Obama and the Democratic ticket. The vote set the benchmark for a new generation of campaigns.
"There is never an off year. It's on and it's important," said Randal Pinkett. Pinkett is the co-founder and CEO of BCT Partners, consulting firm based in Newark and a member of the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute.
"There are three main reasons why students in particular should vote. First it's crucial to exercise the right; to let your voices be heard, and the voting booth is the most powerful way."
This year there are two state gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, mayoral elections (at the center of which is the New York City election), and a few special elections for the House of Representatives.
Pinkett feels that this year should have just as high a turnout as the presidential elections. "The election will affect all of us. In these hard economic times education, especially higher education, can take a hit and can see increased tuition rates which have implications for all students," he said.
As chairperson for the Yes We Can 2.0 campaign, his focus and priority is to work alongside the Democratic State Committee of New Jersey in an effort to get voters out to the polls this year.
"This demographic reached record numbers last year and this earned them respect and attention [from candidates]," continued Pinkett. "We must continue the momentum and show that last year was not a fluke or an exception but a new reality."
Pinkett says that without question education is the issue most crucial to college students.
"Education is the passport to the future. It has to be affordable, and the public policy has to support young people. There must be federal loans for students to invest in themselves."
Yes We Can 2.0 tries to remind voters that the work was not finished with one election. Elections such as the gubernatorial election on November 3 in New Jersey is another opportunity for voters to make their voices heard and to set the stage for the midterm 2010 election when 37 governships, 38 Senate seats and the entire House of Representatives are up for re-election.
"Yes We Can 2.0 is a continual movement," Pinkett said. "Our goal is to carry momentum by getting people excited. We do so by continuing the same core values from the first Yes We Can campaign: community service, civic engagement and respecting diversity."
In New Jersey alone more than 1.2 million first time voters cast a ballot for Obama and the Democratic ticket. The vote set the benchmark for a new generation of campaigns.
"There is never an off year. It's on and it's important," said Randal Pinkett. Pinkett is the co-founder and CEO of BCT Partners, consulting firm based in Newark and a member of the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute.
"There are three main reasons why students in particular should vote. First it's crucial to exercise the right; to let your voices be heard, and the voting booth is the most powerful way."
This year there are two state gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, mayoral elections (at the center of which is the New York City election), and a few special elections for the House of Representatives.
Pinkett feels that this year should have just as high a turnout as the presidential elections. "The election will affect all of us. In these hard economic times education, especially higher education, can take a hit and can see increased tuition rates which have implications for all students," he said.
As chairperson for the Yes We Can 2.0 campaign, his focus and priority is to work alongside the Democratic State Committee of New Jersey in an effort to get voters out to the polls this year.
"This demographic reached record numbers last year and this earned them respect and attention [from candidates]," continued Pinkett. "We must continue the momentum and show that last year was not a fluke or an exception but a new reality."
Pinkett says that without question education is the issue most crucial to college students.
"Education is the passport to the future. It has to be affordable, and the public policy has to support young people. There must be federal loans for students to invest in themselves."
Yes We Can 2.0 tries to remind voters that the work was not finished with one election. Elections such as the gubernatorial election on November 3 in New Jersey is another opportunity for voters to make their voices heard and to set the stage for the midterm 2010 election when 37 governships, 38 Senate seats and the entire House of Representatives are up for re-election.
"Yes We Can 2.0 is a continual movement," Pinkett said. "Our goal is to carry momentum by getting people excited. We do so by continuing the same core values from the first Yes We Can campaign: community service, civic engagement and respecting diversity."
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