Barack Obama was re-elected President of the United States on Tuesday November 6. President Obama’s ability to win the majority of the minority, women and youth votes helped him to win the election, according to a November 7 Washington Post article.
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In his first campaign, President Obama’s victory was also attributed in part to the record numbers of first time minority, women and youth voters. Although the percentage of these voters have not increased overall, this group has begun to establish itself as a significant voting bloc.
“Black voters made up 13 percent of the electorate, just as they did in 2008, and Hispanics increased from nine percent to ten percent. Obama won more than 70 percent of Hispanics and more than 90 percent of blacks, according to exit polls,” a November 7 Washington Post article reported. “He also maintained his advantage with women, defeating Romney by 11 points among female voters.”According to a November 7 NPR interview with Micheal Dimock of Pew Research Center, the majority of this new demographic tends to be more democratic in its perspective about the role of the government in regards to social and economic issues.
A May 2012 Brookings Institute article predicted that the minority vote would influence the outcome of this election. Though only approximately a quarter of the vote was non-white it was enough to tip the election in favor of the President.
“In 2012, communities of color, young people and women are not merely interest groups, they’re the ‘new normal’ demographic of the American electorate,” Janet Murgui said in a Kansas City Star article from November 7.
There was excitement in the senior class at Convent of the Sacred Heart about being apart of the youth vote. Seniors who were able to vote in this election, expressed excitement about being able to have a voice in the government.
“I was excited to vote, because I am passionate about the topics that were raised and because my grandmother immigrated during World War II,” senior Polly Bruce said. “She always prized the fact that she could vote in the United States. So I when think about voting I think of her and what she fought for.”
– Taylor Michael, Photo Editor
