As the campaign season enters its last full week, big questions surround the impact of the youth vote. In 2008, a record 23 million Americans 18 to 29 went to the ballot box with President Obama winning 66 percent of the demographic but this year, that enthusiasm doesn't seem to be there.
Remember all of the young faces that cheered on John McCain and Barack Obama in 2008? The campaign signs, T-shirts and the rock concert atmosphere of political rallies? Four years later, that excitement has diminished.
"I haven't been hearing much about it on campus," said CSUB student Ben Munoz. "People are pretty much into midterms and studying for finals."
"I feel like some of the students feel like if they don't vote it's not going to make much of a difference," said CSUB senior Sue Calderon.
With a tough economy, high unemployment and rising tuition costs... some say there's not much to get excited about.
"I see it as a business right now in politics. They want to get in, do what they want to do and by the end of their term what happens, happens," said CSUB senior Cortez Summit.
Some student groups however are working to turn frustration into enthusiasm. The campus' student government body known as associated students incorporated registered more than 500 new student voters this quarter.
"I always think the college vote is very important and could sway an election and take a toll on certain propositions this year," said ASI President Hernan Hernandez.
One of the most important issues for students is the Governor's sales tax initiative known as Proposition 30. If it fails, higher education could see a 250 million dollar budget cut.
"Students everywhere from elementary to college students, are just left on the back burner of everything," said Summit.
Come Tuesday, those who vote will have a chance to make their voices heard.
"If you don't vote, you really don't have the opportunity or the right to complain about anything," said Calderon.
According to a survey by Harvard University, only 43 percent of youth voters will cast a ballot this year, down from 67 percent in 2008.
