Although Barack Obama leads John McCain by almost 30 points among 18 to 29 year-old registered voters, these younger voters are still less likely to vote than older voters this year according to recent studies.

Obama is clearly the favored candidate with younger voters, but Obama and McCain are more competitive among the older age groups.

Evidence of an increase in new-voter registration and potentially higher participation among young voters given Obama’s appeal certainly exists, but to what extent can Gallup’s large daily tracking samples provide a look into whether younger voters will actually vote in high numbers?  Based on October 14th-20th tracking stats, which include interviews with over 6,500 registered voters, 18 to 29 year-olds are still far behind older voters on key predictors of turnout.

At the most basic level, young voters are substantially less likely than those who are older to report that they are registered to vote.

This shouldn’t be surprising. Young folks are more mobile, less likely to have a permanent residence, and in general less tuned into the political debate.  This year again, there has been discussion about sizable efforts to register young people (on college campuses, for example), but the data suggests that those in the under 30 group have quite a ways to go before they are registered at the same levels as the older folks; particularly those over 50.

The data also shows that young voters, despite the feeling that they are deeply involved in the political process this year, are less likely than those who are older to say they have given quite a lot of thought to the election.  Now there’s a scary thought..

Come what may, whatever age you are, just get out there and vote!  Please…….

That’s my opinion.  What’s yours? As always, your comments good or bad are welcome. Just click on “Comments” below to let us know what you think.