Candidates Try To Woo Young Voters With Technology

Young people came out in big numbers for the 2008 presidential election – giving Democrats in particular a big boost. Participation dropped off in the 2012 Midterms. So what are candidates doing to reverse the trend? Targeting messages and adopting the latest technology.

If you’re a twenty-something, you may have noticed speeches targeting you directly. GOP Vice Presidential Nominee Paul Ryan said during his address quote, “College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters.”

First Lady Michelle Obama fought back with, “Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise.”

In addition to these direct pleas to young citizens both political parties are spending big money and time on technology to get the message out.

Mitt Romney used an app to announce his V.P. pick and Barack Obama jumped on the website Reddit.com recently for a chat. That’s just the start though. The candidates are also branching out into the latest social media platforms – with Pinterest pages and even Spotify music playlists for the campaign trail.

Each of the conventions offered special apps showcasing schedules and the host city. Pundits are also closely watching Twitter after every speech to gauge reaction among young voters in particular.

For more information, make sure to catch Michelle’s report from WHNT News 19 at 6:30 p.m.