Attracting the Youth Vote

As Election Day approaches, campaigns are targeting certain groups of voters to ensure that they will come out to the the polls.

One of those sought-after groups is the youth vote.  We asked a young voter what candidates should be doing to get out the vote.  Bertin Covaruvias, a 27 year old graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, says that voters want “a candidate that is doing something different” and “stands out from the rest.” He says they want to see a “candidate that motivates people.”

Covaruvias noted that some of the most important issues to young people are “jobs, education, and healthcare.” He admits that it can be challenging to reach them them, though. He notes, “people have a lot of other stuff going on, and politics can seem very impersonal.” He explains, “candidates reaching out and coming to our neighborhoods means a lot,” and recommends that candidates set aside time to meet young people. Finally, Covaruvias points out that young voters want a fresh, new message. He recommends that candidates be more authentic in their communication strategies. That means no negative TV ads. “I don’t think that works anymore,” he says. 

At our upcoming “Chicago Politics in Transition” forum on April 9th, a panel of experts will be discussing these and other issues related to the runoff election. We will explore a break down of the voting numbers and demographics to see how a voter like Bertin influenced election results. We hope you will join us for this unique opportunity to analyze shifting trends in politics.

Click here to view the invitation and purchase your tickets today.