YYouth and outh and PPolitics in olitics in

IIowa:owa:

Presented byPresented by

Cody AllenCody Allen

Elizabeth BarretElizabeth Barret

Girija MahajanGirija Mahajan

Providing Political Opportunities

Through Organizations

The Political AtmosphereThe Political Atmosphere

Currently, Iowa is a hot spot for Currently, Iowa is a hot spot for national politics. The Republican strawnational politics. The Republican strawpoll and other fundraisers provide poll and other fundraisers provide opportunities for young Iowans to get opportunities for young Iowans to get involved in politics. The problem is involved in politics. The problem is that few youths are taking advantage of this. that few youths are taking advantage of this.

ProposalProposal To involve more High School To involve more High School

students in their local and state students in their local and state politics through organizations.politics through organizations.

The High School The High School LevelLevel

What we do have:What we do have: Student GovernmentStudent Government Boys/Girls StateBoys/Girls State National Council for Youth LeadershipNational Council for Youth Leadership Governor’s Youth Leadership ConferenceGovernor’s Youth Leadership Conference CaucusesCaucuses ISPACISPAC

Iowa Student Political Awareness Iowa Student Political Awareness Club:Club:

Formed by Chet Culver, Secretary of Formed by Chet Culver, Secretary of StateState

Nonpartisan statewide organization, to Nonpartisan statewide organization, to increase political and community increase political and community involvementinvolvement

Campaigning opportunitiesCampaigning opportunities

At the High School LevelAt the High School Level

What we don’t What we don’t have. . .have. . .

. . . . . . Availability &Availability &Promotion . . .Promotion . . .

Availability:Availability: – Many of these high schools Many of these high schools

programs are usually offered programs are usually offered in urban areas, while in rural in urban areas, while in rural areas they are not.areas they are not.

– 61% Rural61% Rural 39% Urban39% Urban•State Population-1996State Population-1996

PromotionPromotion– Making students aware of this Making students aware of this

programs should be a priority. programs should be a priority.

– This will trigger student This will trigger student involvement.involvement.

Advantages to considering the Advantages to considering the proposalproposal

More youths in Iowa would be aware of the More youths in Iowa would be aware of the political opportunities in Iowa.political opportunities in Iowa.

It would increase 18-24 voter turnout. It would increase 18-24 voter turnout.

It would encourage young Iowans to stay and It would encourage young Iowans to stay and better their own state.better their own state.

““The majority of people , if The majority of people , if not involved in politics by not involved in politics by

the age 18, will not be the age 18, will not be involved until they retire.”involved until they retire.”

-David Yepsen-David Yepsen