Young voters must act

With strong showings of young voters capturing the headlines in early primaries and caucuses, we are seeing a generation – whose attention is difficult to hold – show considerable interest in the political process and in choosing the leaders of our future.

Headlines abound on the topic of “young voters” and the Generation Y movement to get involved in this year’s elections. But will the energy carry forward to the Maine caucuses, or is it simply a reaction to the rallying cry of pop- star politicians? Can it be that a generation raised on instant messaging, iPods and YouTube can be sincere in wanting to effect change the old-fashioned way?

In Maine, we are about to find out.

Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to work with and experience the growth of two organizations that are fostering the collective voice of Gen X, Gen Y – all those up-and-comers. What we are seeing right here in Maine is what other states are getting headlines for – young professionals getting together and working for the future of their cities, towns, regions and state. Young leaders are steadily building a platform of substance and making sure their voices, ideas and experiences are represented when it matters most.

Right here, FusionBangor has been a growing force in engaging and empowering young professionals not only to get out and be seen, but to be a unifying voice of change for the economic, social and recreational future of the Bangor region. Statewide, REALIZE!Maine has quietly been working with groups like Fusion all over Maine to build a growing, organized network of regional organizations, all carrying a collective mission: to enable today’s young professional to explore his or her passion and breed the future stewards of our state.

How do FusionBangor and REALIZE!Maine relate to the role of young voters? While strictly nonpartisan, both groups are planning aggressive communications campaigns to get their members involved in local caucuses, primaries and elections in 2008 and beyond. But in order to be heard, we must first be seen. And it must be done the old-fashioned way – by showing up and raising your hand.

As a member of the under-40 set (at least for now), I have been part of a lot of talk about the importance of political action to improve our collective future. I’ve sat on panels with community leaders discussing both pessimism and opportunity for our state and its economic future. I’ve heard a lot of good ideas and viewpoints. But talk is not enough.

It is time to move beyond the conversation. And therein lies the challenge. It’s a challenge I am issuing to myself, my friends and colleagues, family members and community leaders. It is the challenge of engagement.

Established leaders and voters can play a significant role in encouraging young voter participation. Engage a young voter. Bring a younger colleague to a caucus. Inspire a dialogue about politics with another generation. Share your perspective, and most importantly, ask theirs. Mentor a young person getting involved in the political process, and you open up a world of opportunity for them to shape the future.

For the young voters themselves, the challenge is to stop talking and do something. The first step? Attend a caucus. If you have never participated in a caucus (and that includes me), don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from taking part. Find a friend, mark your calendar and make your way to the regional caucus and soak in for yourself the experience of using your voice to forward your ideals.

Caucus dates, times and locations for both Republican and Democratic events can be found at the REALIZE!Maine Web site: www.realizemaine.org. Make it a point to forward this information to at least one young voter in your life.

Not enrolled but want to participate? In most cases you can enroll the same day as the caucus. Both parties are excited to welcome young voters to the process, and will eagerly accommodate newcomers. You can also make it a point to become educated so that when Election Day rolls around, you are prepared to make a statement in any race – local, state or national.

These big headlines about young voters are only the beginning. They cast light on what has quietly been a growing movement of enthusiasm, engagement and empowerment. The young voter, just like the young professional and the young leader, is the future of every region. With Maine’s older population growing rapidly, the need for youth in action is critical in our state. And now, by answering this challenge, Maine is in a unique position to move from talking about action to demonstrating it.

Can there be a more rewarding experience than personally engaging in the democratic process? One thing is for sure – participating is certainly more rewarding than watching it all happen on YouTube. Don’t let this opportunity pass Maine by – virtually or otherwise.

Cary Weston is a Bangor native, graduate of the University of Maine and partner at Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications. He is also founding chair of FusionBangor, member of REALIZE!Maine, and serves as chairman of the Bangor Republican City Committee.