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PRECSION MILLWRIGHTS

PHOENIX — Concern over low turnout among young Arizona voters in past years has some political leaders worrying about a potentially lackluster showing in November's presidential election.

Youths make up an estimated 20 percent of the voting bloc in Arizona. Experts say if they mobilized, they could change the outcomes in tight races.

Polls show that young voters tend to lean Democratic, and a poor youth turnout in Arizona and nationally could favor Republicans.

In the 2000 presidential election, 29 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 turned out in Arizona, compared with 40 percent nationally, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a Maryland-based think tank that tracks the youth vote.

The overall voter turnout rate in Arizona that year was 8 percentage points below the national average, according to the U.S. Elections Project.

In 2004, Arizona's 46 percent turnout was an improvement over 2000, but was the same turnout as in 1972, the first presidential election to allow 18-year-olds to vote.

On Feb. 5 this year, — despite Arizona being Sen. John McCain's home state and big publicity blitzes from Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton — the state had a 7 percent youth turnout.

Many states had double-digit turnouts, and the turnout rate among voters 30 and older was 25 percent in Arizona.

This fall, Arizona's 18- to 29-year-old population is expected to number about 824,000.

Reasons for poor youth turn-out range from unfamiliarity with the voter-registration pro-cess to not having the same stake in the political system that older voters do.

Young voters often pay lower taxes because they earn less, have no children in school and don't usually own homes, said Clyde Frazier, a political-science professor at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.

He said taxes, schools and property ownership are all things that tend to motivate people to get involved in the political system.

Young voters, especially those in college, also tend to move a lot. This can be a challenge because they must remember to re-register to vote at their new addresses or request an absentee ballot.

Stan Williams, executive director of the Young Democrats of Arizona, is optimistic despite the state's below-average show.

He points out that Arizona's youth turnout has increased since 2002 when the state ranked last with 11 percent turnout. Since then, the state has moved to 34th for the 2006 midterm election.

Williams said the Young Democrats target potential voters under age 36 with door-to-door visits and approach them at bars and at concerts. They also encourage people to sign voter-pledge cards.

Tony Gonzales, a vice chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party, said Republicans and Democrats have their work cut out in getting more young people to vote.

"Right now is the time, I think, for young people to start recognizing we have an opportunity for change, and let's take part," he said. "Let's not just sit back."