When Young People Vote in Greater Numbers, Does Anyone Hear Them?

Two million more young people voted this year than did in the last midterm election, a research group told student reporters yesterday. The change could bring higher-education issues to the forefront. The University of Maryland Diamondback noted that one of the first things Maryland Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley said in his victory speech to supporters was, "We're going to make college more affordable again, right?" And the Yale Daily News concluded Democratic leadership in the House and Senate could do the same thing on the national stage. But meanwhile, at UCLA, the youth vote doesn't seem to have made much difference: According to a Daily Bruin exit poll, UCLA students cast their votes much differently than did the rest of California voters.