Generation Y, also known as Echo Boomers, consists of 18- to 24-year-olds who are voting less and lack a major interest in politics and voting.
In 2006, USA Today reported that among a survey of 650 18- to 30-year-olds, 69 percent said they were most likely going to vote in November, and 80 percent said they were registered to vote.
Yet another survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press said that among a survey of 1,804 adults, 40 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds are not registered to vote.
"Voter turnout rates have dropped a lot," said Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "There are a lot of people who don't see voting as a duty."
Theiss-Morse said members of both Generations X and Y believe their votes don't make a difference, and if their parents don't vote, they likely view voting as a waste of time.
With a raging war in Iraq that is largely unpopular, comparisons have been made to the Vietnam War era. But there are differences between Generation Y and the Vietnam Generation, Theiss-Morse said.
"People at that time were more engaged, and the voter turnout rate was higher in the '60s," she said. "With the Vietnam War, people felt they could make a difference and change U.S. history."
Theiss-Morse said now there is a feeling the government is so far removed from the public that people can't make a difference.
"There's more (young people inclined) toward volunteering in the community," she said. "That gives them a sense that they can make a difference, but it is not associated with politics."
Drew Dougherty, a senior political science and economics major at UNL, works for the Nebraska Republican Party as a field director and said there's been an increase in voter apathy.
"They (Generation Y) don't care about voting and that's part of a problem with schooling, society and their peers," Dougherty said,
He said that voter apathy has increased especially with Generations X and Y, and people think that it's wrong to talk about politics in conversations.
"We haven't had any instances that have riled everybody up and forced our generation to step up," Dougherty said. "Vietnam forced people to become more politically active, and our generation hasn't had that."
He said that, for Generation Y, if something doesn't impact them directly, then they don't think it's worth their time.
"I don't see what would indicate to me that the younger generations are more politically conscious than anybody else," he said. "At the same time, the ones that I do see coming into the office are more willing to be involved."
Dougherty said the people who are more devoted to politics and voting are those who are inspired to do community service and work in politics.
Theiss-Morse said it's hard to convince the younger generations that voting is important.
"I don't think it works to force people to participate; people have to understand how the process works," she said.
She said the younger generations need to be willing to come to a compromise on issues and to emphasize that in education.
"With the election and war, I think people are a bit more interested in politics, so I can see future generations being a bit more engaged," Theiss-Morse said. "How can people feel they have an effect? We need to address and work on that."
Dougherty said future generations can still make an impact in politics.
"We need to strive harder to connect with them on an individual level, and not dismiss them as voters," he said.
megansvoboda@dailynebraskan.com
