Teens are paying attention to the 2012 US Presidential election and have opinions on the candidates. A survey found that most teens feel the candidates care more about getting elected than helping teenagers' future security. Teens also expressed concerns about unemployment after college and a lack of support for small businesses. The teens' views generally mirrored the regions they lived in, with coastal areas favoring Obama and other areas favoring Romney. Teens were also influenced by their parents' views but think independently on personal issues. Teens with economic difficulties tended to support Romney while others supported the candidate more aligned with their overall views. In a mock election referenced in the article, President Obama won with 51% of the teen vote compared to Mitt Romney's 45

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T & Politics
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What Teens are Saying about
the 2012 Presidential Election?
Jade Robinson
I’m writing this article mere days away from
the 2012 United States Presidential campaign. The
outcome is not yet known. But what we do know
is that today’s teens have listened up and spoken out
on the candidates. They have an opinion of who
they want to run our country for the next four years
Some
of these opinions are just that- (with the exception of the coastal states) voted for Mitt Romney.
opinions. The reason? Simple Both coastal regions supported President Obama. The key
math-only a handful of teenagers states of Ohio and Iowa also went to the President in this mock
will actually be able to vote. But whether or not their age election.
allows them to be a part of the decision process, their opinions
do matter. They matter because their ideas and views on What their religious and moral views are
life, liberty and the future of our country are what will be This should come as no surprise: conservatives voted for Mitt
shaping the future of our country. So…let’s take a look at what Romney and less conservatives voted for President Obama. It is
America’s young people have to say. According to a report in interesting to note that the moral and religious issues teens care
the Junior Achievement USA survey, 57% of teens feel that both most about are fairly me - oriented. The issues we’re talking
candidates are more concerned about getting elected than they about here include lowering the drinking age to18 nationwide,
are about doing something to make their future in this country legalizing marijuana, less government restrictions on the internet
more secure and a vast majority of teens (66%) are fearful that and piracy, protection of student loan funding, gay rights and
their college education will be nothing more than a ‘temporary job security. Do you see a pattern? They want the government
fix’ to unemployment-that they’ll not have jobs when they to step in when it will bring them gain, but ‘back-off’ is the word
graduate. Additionally, only 18% of them feel like the candidates when it comes to restricting them.
have a sincere desire and understanding of how to help the ‘little
guy’ (small business owners) resume their rightful place in the Their parents
‘Land of Opportunity’. The majority of teens surveyed in these reports
were between the ages of 13 and 18 and still in high
Who said teenagers weren’t paying attention? Sounds school. This naturally results in the teens’ being
like they have a pretty good handle on things, to me. Their somewhat influenced by the views and beliefs of their
concerns are the concerns of the majority of breathing, thinking parents when it comes to the economy, education,
Americans. Their concerns are the same as our concerns for jobs and the war. When it comes to matters that hit
both our futures and those of our children security and the them personally, they are thinking for themselves more
freedom to live our dreams. As for where they are ‘getting’ and more.
these opinions from, most teens are fully capable and desirous
to think for themselves. They do listen to Jon Stewart and What economic status of a teen is
Stephen Colbert, but they are no man’s puppets. They are Those teens who’ve had to leave their homes, give up
listening to these guys because they can understand what these extra activities or even change schools (public vs. private) for
late-night guys are talking about. The issues are put to language economic reasons are more likely to vote for Mitt Romney. They
they understand. And hey, these guys can be pretty funny. don’t have to listen to any debate or advertisements. They are
That’s all well and good. And it is great to know we are seeing a living the results of the state of the present economy. For those
reignited passion in our young people for the health and welfare whose lives have not been greatly affected, their votes go to
of our country. But what is this passion saying? Who are teens the candidate they feel best reflects their views on other areas.
‘voting’ for? The Scholastic Student Vote 2012 results show that Okay, I know you’re wanting to know who ‘won’ this completely
this depends on: mock election. Of course you do! The winner of the election
by a 51% to 45% margin (4% other) was President Obama.
Where teens live
The majority of teens living in the lower Midwest and southern Like I said, by the time you read this we’ll know if the kids
regions of the country, as well as those living in the northwest knew what they were talking about. But for now...
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