Jax Young Voters Coalition Brings Together Diverse

[fieldafm]

Anything to bring informed voters to the polls is great, but I'm wondering how it got to be Jax. Young Voters 18-40 years old?  Like someone else said above, 30-40 is young voters?   Questioning who they wanted in the group to expand "young" to 40 years of age. and the idea that 30 -40 years old are inexperienced and uninformed voters?  Glad City Council candidates are having a 'meet & greet", but a little hesitant that politicians will do anything other than give the audience what they want to hear.  The same way candidates talk to "women' or "business clubs".

I do wish them success and getting more people to the polls even over 40 year olds.  Again, why isn't it 18-30 year olds?  Rhetorical question, no one has to answer.   

Because of this statistic:

The 2011 city election turnouts for 18 to 40 year-olds was 13.5 percent and 19.7 percent respectively, according to documents provided by the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office. Overall turnout was 29.7 percent and 37.3 percent for the 2011 first and general city elections.

Clearly, there is a need for people younger than 40 to have more of a say in who gets elected to lead our city. Politicians tend to care more about issues that effect the people that vote in large numbers, and there is a large under-representation of people aged 18-40 at the voting booth. 

[Jax native]

Okay, I understand the reasoning behind the 18 - 40 years old now.  Thanks for that stat.  I was not really thinking about the fact that is how voting age group are complied, so it seems very reasonable that was the impetus for Jax. Young Voters age determination.  I really do thank you for that because I didn't understand.  I worked w/ Meredith Johnson with the original Brown campaign and know she is an intelligent, involved, powerful force within the community.  They have all my support.  You also have talked me into making the $10.00 contribution to their funds. 

[fieldafm]

http://folioweekly.com/ballots-and-brews,12085?category_id=27%2C&sub_type=blogs

jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-02-18/story/hundreds-show-ballots-brews-intuition-ale-works

[fieldafm]

http://www.jacksonville.com/video/entertainment/2015-02-19/watch-matt-about-jax-ballots-and-brews-intuition-ale-works#gsc.tab=0

http://www.news4jax.com/news/brewpub-holds-event-encouraging-younger-crowd-to-vote/31348506

http://news.wjct.org/post/jax-voter-coalition-brings-young-people-candidates-together-over-beer

Had a little over 500 in attendance last night and registered an impressive amount of voters. Many city council candidates, all mayoral candidates and most sheriff candidates mingled among the large crowd. You could have talked one-on-one with Lenny Curry, Alvin Brown and Bill Bishop.

Councilman Reggie Brown (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-feb-food-trucks-to-be-legislated-out-of-existence) was even on hand eating from a food truck and talked with the food truck owners asking for feedback on the ordinance in practice. That ordinance was radically changed from its initial form based on the huge outpouring of support from (primarily) young voters.

By next week, we should have city council candidate surveys up on jaxyoungvoters.com so that young voters can be informed of city council candidates' stances on issues important to them. I think that many will find the site helpful and aid towards make an informed vote next month.

[fieldafm]

You also have talked me into making the $10.00 contribution to their funds.

Thank you!

[Cheshire Cat]

Again, I applaud all who are involved in the Young Voters Coalition.  One of the primary reasons I think this is so great is the fact that the effort is non partisan and aimed at getting younger folks, regardless of political affiliations involved in the election process and as a result, hopefully leading to my strength and insight in our elected officials.  If I might offer one tiny bit of advice based in years of negotiating local politics to those behind this effort it would be this, do not allow yourselves to be drawn in by the politically powerful or the wealthy corporate manipulators.  Stay independent of the status quo and major political operatives and remain committed to your independence as a coalition.  Know the local players and how to interact with them while remaining clear of all personal agenda's or influence.  A tall order I know, but one I think you are all up to.  Well done!

[fieldafm]

jaxyoungvoters.com is a great site by the way. Hard to ever get all your info regarding the races in one place. Any plans on adding some of their positions on there in addition to the statements the candidates provided? It's great as it is and I realize it's likely being done pro bono and in someones free time. Just curious.

Every city council candidate has been provided a brief survey geared towards issues relevant to young voters. Answers to those survey questions will be posted to the site by next weekend.

[Spitfire]

For anyone interested, the Candidate surveys are now live and arranged by question for side-by-side comparison.

http://jaxyoungvoters.com/candidate-qa

[Cheshire Cat]

For anyone interested, the Candidate surveys are now live and arranged by question for side-by-side comparison.

http://jaxyoungvoters.com/candidate-qa

Yes I am interested.  Thanks for sharing this. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Wow, so only 22 of the 52 candidates in the council races chose to respond to the survey?  That is a shame.  Good on those 22 engaged council candidates who took the time to answer the query's of what will be a formidable force in future elections which is of course the JaxYoungVoters.   

[CityLife]

This is phenomenal. Just skimmed it a bit, and am looking forward to reading it all tonight.

Great work.

[Ramon Day]

I have responded to every survey provided by community groups.  I enjoyed the provocative and insightful questions posed by the JaxYoungVoters.

I can't imagine a candidate for public office overlooking such an impressive array of young people who represent a bi-partisan, diverse sample of the populace who will one day run this great city and build it into an even better place to live.

I was especially honored to have been the recommended candidate for City Council District 4.