According to CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 47 percent of eligible Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in the 2004 election. This is up from 40 percent in the 2000 presidential election.
With so much focus this year on getting younger Americans involved, the Collegiate Times thought it would be interesting to see how popular athletes felt about the race. Both as students and as a general consensus of our generation, athletes are put on a pedestal. From football to track & field, male and female athletes were asked a variety of political questions.
"I'm probably more conservative," said Brett Warren, starting outside linebacker for Tech's football team. Although he did not vote in the last election, he is registered in Virginia for this one and will be voting absentee. He noted that taxes and gun control were important issues to him. "My family is just more Republican, to be honest," Warren said. "And, especially in Virginia, people want to have their rights when it comes to things like gun control." When asked whether he was decided among the candidates yet, Warren promptly replied, "McCain."
"I actually had a huge conversation or argument, really, in the locker room about this yesterday," Warren said, although he does not consider himself to be all that into the political scene.
There is some political diversity in that locker room, however.
His defensive teammate, Victor "Macho" Harris, was still undecided. Also, in contrast to Warren, Harris would not consider himself either more conservative or more liberal. "Definitely the health care," Harris said when asked about his most important issues for Tuesday. "Health is always a main, main issue. We just want everybody to be healthy and to get the type of medical support that they need."
Harris, the starting cornerback, has also watched the presidential debates over the last several weeks, but did not feel as though they helped him make his decision because he did not know what to believe on either end. "It's politics, you know -- I don't really buy into stuff like that because you've got flaws on both ends and you've got strong points on both ends."
Harris voted in the last election, but declined to comment when asked for whom he actually cast his vote. He is registered in Virginia for this election and plans on voting on Tuesday. He is leaning toward one of the candidates, but again declined to comment on whom.
Starting free safety Kam Chancellor has no question in his mind who he is going to vote for. Although he considers himself more conservative overall, he is voting for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
Chancellor staunchly agrees with Obama's health care plan, which is one of the main factors in his decision. "It sounds like he has a good plan for us, a good change," Chancellor said.
In addition to watching the debates, Chancellor also caught the Al Smith Dinner Party special which featured Obama as more laidback.
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