Rush of young voters? Not so much

Kaitlin Luschen, 20, of Le Mars, registers to vote for the first time in a presidential election. "It's my turn to vote," she said. Across the nation, young voters did not come out in droves as anticipated. The number of 18-29 year olds rose only one percentage point from the 2004 election. [Click to enlarge]

Turns out it was more of a nudge.

According to national exit polls, about 18 percent of the voters Tuesday were under the age of 30.

That's up only 1 percent from the 2004, 2000 and 1996 general elections, where 18-29 year olds made up about 17 percent.

Still, young voters made an appearance at the Plymouth County polling places.

"We've had a lot of first-time voters, 18 year olds," said election worker Iris Hemmingson at the polls Tuesday.

Briana Engebretson, 18, of Le Mars, cast her ballot for the first time Tuesday.

"That is what American citizens do," she said.

The abortion issue was a big one when she decided who to vote for, Engebretson said.

With the new rules allowing people to register to vote on Election Day, new voter turnout was high in all age categories.

In Plymouth County 372 people registered as new voters. The new same-day registration law went into effect Jan. 1 of this year.

While young voter numbers may not have been staggering, their vote did have an impact.

About 66 percent of 18-29 year olds' vote went to Sen. Barack Obama, who won Tuesday's presidential election.

"Obama is a great speaker and a youthful guy, he kind of represents the youth in a lot of ways," said 22-year-old Tyler Switalski after voting Tuesday.

Participating in the election, the Le Mars man said, is a civic duty.

"I wanted to prove everyone wrong who says our age group doesn't show," he added.

The economy was one of the issues on his mind as he cast his ballot. Another but less prominent issue for Switalski was the war in Iraq.

"It's back burner right now," he said.

Domestic issues were on the mind of a 23 year old from Le Mars when she voted Tuesday, but the war was also a factor for her.

"I personally think we should stay -- it would crumble their economy if we leave and create mass chaos," she said.

For Kaitlin Luschen, a 20 year old from Le Mars, it was health care, not the war, that brought her out to vote.

"I have a family now," she said. "I need to trust the person who's going to be president, that he'll be good for their future. And that there will be health care."

The health are and the economy seemed more important than the war to voters across the board.

"The war isn't big on my list," said a 48-year-old woman from Le Mars. "Health care is a pretty big deal. More so not for me but for my elderly parents and my children. I'd like to see something more nationalized."

A 66-year-old said with the national economy seeing tough times, economics and taxes were issues impacting his vote Tuesday.

"We need change," he said.