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Stumble It!Voter registration across the country is on the rise this election year. One poll shows that across the country voter registration for African Americans, women and young people is on the rise. This recent increase in attention to politics may be credited to the different kinds of candidates running for office this year.
Sarah Palin and Barack Obama are breaking through traditional political stereotypes, and one of them will become the first woman or non-white male to be elected to one of the most prominent offices in the country. This attention this election is getting is causing election officials to prepare for record numbers of voters at the polls.
One Douglas County resident, Julianne Kueffer, says she plans to vote and that this election is more meaningful than any in the past. She says that she is telling everyone she knows to vote and that she is trying to take a more active role this election year.
"I haven't done much to learn and make my own opinion in the previous elections until this one," said Kueffer.
In Douglas County voter registration is also on the rise. The County Clerk's office says it is preparing for the possibility of a record number of voters this year and Jamie Shew, Douglas County Clerk, says they will probably see an 80% voter turnout on November fourth.
—Alesha Doan
Shew said the recent increase in voter registration is due in part because of the attention the national presidential election is getting, but local issues will also bring people to the polls he said.
"On the local level we have a lot of very strong issues we have some special sales tax questions regarding transit which have really spurred a lot of increase. So, I think that the ticket from president all the way down to the questions is what's really causing people to vote," said Shew.
University of Kansas Professor of political science, Alesha Doan, said that she is glad to see this election getting so much attention and feels that every citizen should vote and have their voices heard.
"The important thing is to get out start voting you know, become involved and really pay attention to what's going on because four years is a long time to be a part of an administration that you did not want to be elected," said Doan.
Students and interested parties can log on to several web sites to get information on voter registration in their area and about the candidates' platforms and political views.
Along with Douglas County's web page, CNN, MTV and Rock the Vote all have web sites with information on how to vote, when and where to vote and information about the candidates and their platforms.
Some of those sites, like MTV, has public opinion blogs and postings so that people can communicate with others about the presidential election. They can share opinions, watch video posts from citizens and video from interviews with the candidates.
These interactive sites are also bringing more voter awareness to young people in this election than in past years.
The final tally for Douglas County's voter registration will be in about one or two weeks after the October twentieth deadline. Then election officials can officially determine whether or not this year will be a record setting year for registration and if it will follow along with the national trend.
