Virginia21, an organization which seeks to involve young Virginians in the political process, kicked off its Swing Generation Campaign yesterday to provide information to young voters as well as encourage them to participate in this year's gubernatorial election.
"The Swing Generation Campaign is the effort in making sure students are getting to the polls," Virginia21 Communications Director David Solimini said.
Solimini said this year's Swing Generation Campaign is especially important because the Commonwealth will elect a new governor.
"Young voters are quickly becoming important, and they are voting in increasing numbers," Solimini said. "Young voters are kind of becoming the new required check box. Every time a new candidate runs for office, they have to meet with so many groups. Young voters have become one of those groups by virtue of the fact that they are increasing in numbers."
Solimini said last week's Focus on Education Forum in Richmond exemplified how an increase in young-adult voter turnout affects elections. He said the three candidates for governor were all vying for young adult support.
"All three candidates for governor were on stage answering the questions of business leaders," Solimini said. "They were tripping all over themselves showing their support for higher education."
Solimini said voter turnout varies with each election year.
"Turnout levels vary a lot between on-year and off-year elections, so the number will be different," he said.
He said he hopes Virginia21 will see higher voter turnout than in 2001 during the last Virginia governor election.
The Swing Generation Campaign will conclude Nov. 8, the day of the gubernatorial election, according to Solimini.
"We'll go into the General Assembly session in spring, and we'll be calling on members about legislative issues," he said.
At each campus, Solimini said Virginia21 members make sure students know about absentee ballots and send e-mail reminders to students about voting deadlines. He added that they use T-shirts and flyers to encourage political involvement.
Solimini said Virginia21 has student-members at the University.
"We have a campus coordinator and a number of U.Va. students who are members and who are taking action and getting involved," he said.
This is the Swing Generation Campaign's second year, and Solimini said he wants to mirror last year's successful effort.
"We hope the momentum that was achieved last year will keep going," he said.
Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said the University's Center for Politics also is working to increase student voter turnout.
"The Center has tried to take the lead in working with U.Va. student groups in registering U.Va. students and making sure they cast a ballot one way or another, either by showing up in person or by filling out the absentee ballot," Sabato said.
He added that this year, the Center has given out over 500 voter registration forms and absentee ballots to University students.
"We've got a whole coalition working on this," Sabato said.
Increasing young adult voter turnout is integral to the political process, Solimini said.
"The more young people participate, the more likely things will get accomplished," he said.
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