Young Danville voters get active for election - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Young voters have a growing impact on the outcome of the presidential election. In the last three presidential elections, they have voted for the Democratic candidate.

The Pew Research Center says 66 percent of voters under the age of 30 voted for Barack Obama in 2008. Eyewitness News wanted to find out how this group feels with the 2012 November election approaching.

Plenty of passion and a lot of hot topics came up when our On The Road tour rolled into Danville last week, but what stuck out was young people who came out to see us. We went back to Danville Wednesday and made a point to seek out young voters like 19-year-old Luke Stephenson.

Stephenson is one of many Danville teenagers who plans to make his voice heard in his first chance to vote in a presidential election.

"I think the energy issue - that was hit on a few times at our town meeting and overall the economy is a big thing across the board," he said.

Most young voters make less than $50,000 are single and occasionally attend church.

Danville High School government teacher Mike Neilson brought several students to the town hall meeting. He says they all want a stake when it comes to their future.

"They are just not sure how to get their voice heard, so when channel 13 comes out and has a town hall meeting, it's their opportunity to get some of their ideas out," said Neilson.

The town hall meeting in Danville sparked even more talks about politics. Students are now passing out a flyer about a "meet the candidates night" - and it's not just local

Neilson is trying "to bring home the idea that voting runs the gamut from the local all the way up to the federal and that their vote can make a difference."

One town hall meeting may not answer all the questions, but residents say it was a sure way to get politicians listening.

"I think that some good opinions were shared and opened up the conversations for Danville," Stephenson said.