Pundits who were expecting a sharp downturn in youth participation in politics this year got some cold water thrown in their face last Tuesday, when youth turnout essentially matched that of 2008. Which means, says Harvard’s John Della Volpe, that it’s up to President Obama to show that group of voters that he can deliver for them.
“This gives them another chance to really engage in the policy work necessary to tackle some solutions to problems facing millennials," Della Volpe said. "Immigration reform is something that speaks to who this generation is. For the millennial generation it's not just a Hispanic or Latino issue, but an issue of opportunity and fairness, and this gives him the opportunity to reconnect the White House with this generation."
Though Della Volpe notes that moving on immigration or student debt is vital for Obama, young people shouldn’t see civic participation as a once-every-four-years activity and they need to continue actively participating to be taken seriously.
Check out the full story at MTV News.
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