Local voter turnout grows since last election

National numbers show discrepancy in youth votes

By MAURICE NDOLE

Three polling stations near Fresno State reported an increase in voter turnout in Tuesday’s election, especially among young voters.

By closing time, 414 people had voted and several others turned in absentee ballots at the Precinct 137 polling station on Cedar and Gettysburg avenues.

“The turnout is double what it usually is,” said Linda OBarr, Precinct 137 polling station inspector. “I used to get about 20 percent and now it’s more than 50 percent. A lot of young people are voting, a lot more than we have seen. I think it’s because of the advertisements on TV.”

Precinct 137, which has 878 registered voters, shared the station with Precinct 155, which saw 307 out of 643 voters come in to cast their votes.

Despite the increase in voter participation, there was no crowding at the polling stations.

First-time voter Tonisha Henson, who was standing in line a few yards away from the voting booth, said she had been in line for about three minutes.

Henson, a Fresno State junior majoring in business, said she was inspired to vote because of proposition 66, the limitation of the Three Strike law, as well as the advertisements urging young people to vote.

“Three strikes acts influenced me to vote because it’s taking a lot of people to jail,” Henson said.

But, according to an Associated Press article, turnout among young voters did not increase as expected.

The article said fewer than one in 10 voters Tuesday were ages 18 to 24, about the same proportion who voted in 2000.

But in its online edition Tuesday night, The Fresno Bee reported an increase in voter turnout in Fresno County. A statement attributed to Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar indicated the county expected the turnout to exceed 70 percent.

Fred Clark, inspector of Precinct 134, said there was a slight increase in turnout among young voters. The precinct saw more than 50 percent in voter turnout with 477 out of 912 registered voters casting their votes.

“I think we’ve had an increase because over half of what the city thinks is going to vote [has voted],” Clark said. “The voter turnout for the younger people has increased; I’m sure they have been watching the advertisements and doing their civic duty.”

First-time voter Jennifer Snell, a Fresno State accounting major, said she was not influenced by advertisements.

“I’m voting because I don’t want other people to vote for me, and I feel that I know a little more about the elections than I did before,” Snell said.

Graduate student Steve DiSalvo, who voted at the Precinct 134 polling station at Piccadilly Inn on Cedar Avenue, said the election targets older people.

“I still feel that the campaigns are not focused on the young. The issues ignore the youth,” DiSalvo said.

Amanda Stykal, a junior at Fresno State and a first-time voter, said she was inspired to vote by the campaigns on television.

“I think all the stuff on MTV has made a big difference, and I know a lot of my friends are voting, and they have never voted before,” Styskal said.

Susan Bechara, captain of the Precinct 134 polling station, said she was glad to see more young people vote.

“I think 9/11 made the young people come. I’m glad to see that young adults are beginning to take where this country is going more seriously,” Bechara said.