Do you think children should be aware of U.S. politics? "Well, yes, because if some people didn't know anything about (politics) they wouldn't be able to carry on a decent conversation when they get older." Rebecca Whitesell, 16 Greensburg Christian Academy Columbus, Ohio "Yes, so they know what's going on in the world." Penny Moffitte, 13 Carroll Junior High Fort Wayne, Ind. "Yes, becau

In last year's presidential election, just more than 50 percent of registered voters in Marion County actually cast votes. Among them were 1,050 area 18-year-olds, including Doug Singleton and Matt Holbreich from North Central High School. Both teens have been involved in government-related activities, such as Indiana Boys State, and draw their political influences from a variety of sources. For H

Many 19-year-olds are freshmen in college, and Derrick Seaver of Ohio is one of them. But he also is a freshman in his state's House of Representatives. Born in Cincinnati and raised in Minster in west-central Ohio, Seaver developed an early fascination with politics despite the fact that there are no politicians in his family. "Both my parents are public school teachers. My grandfather was a unio

Most high school seniors focus on such essential activities as playing sports, working on the fall play and participating in student council. But senior Blair McCarthy has added one more activity to her list: politics. "I'm very much involved in Congressman John Hostettler's 8th District campaign," she said. McCarthy's days are full at Lake Memorial High School in Evansville. Besides being on the

Children's issues aren't what they used to be. At past Democratic conventions, education, health care and safe neighborhoods were at the forefront. This past week, national security and foreign policy were the top priorities -- with some politicians arguing that these are the new children's issues. "These are things that affect all Americans, including children," said Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. "Any t

Political conventions are for kids, too. That's the take from Cy Hudson, the 17-year-old son of delegate Angela Hudson, of Jeffersonville, who tagged along for some political clarity. "I've been considering myself a Republican for many years. And now I have a lot of questions and things I hope will be answered," said Hudson, a senior at Choate Rosemary Hall School in Wallingford, Conn. "I thought

Princella Smith is young and black. She's also loyal to the Republican Party and President Bush, and encourages her peers to become involved in politics and their communities. Her support for President Bush goes back to a speech he made in her home state of Arkansas promoting the No Child Left Behind Act. "He encouraged the people around my age, or maybe a little younger, to continue in the volunt

As the political gambits of the 2008 campaigns kick into high gear, involvement by youth is higher than in any election. According to the Pew Research Center, overall youth turnout - voters ages 17 to 200 for the primaries has increased five percent from the 2004 election.

Megan Waggoner’s first love is the environment. She is active in Alaska Youth for Environmental Action and traveled to Washington, D.C., last year to attend the President’s Environmental Youth Awards ceremony, which recognized her group for its environmental activism.

Raheel Anwer joined the Mikva Challenge Club at Amundsen High School in Chicago without knowing that it would take him to New Hampshire, standing next to Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

Nik Ritchie helped start the Ron Paul club at the University of Central Florida. Although John McCain appears headed for the Republican nomination, Ritchie feels that Paul accomplished a lot. “No one knew who he was before he ran for president, and he did very well considering how unknown he was,” he said.

Shoshana Akabas is editor in chief of Political Fire, a political newspaper at Stuyvesant High School, a renowned public school in New York. She hasn’t always been interested in politics — a few years ago, she was pretty apathetic even though both of her older brothers — Tal and Shai Akabas — were editors on the newspaper.

As a teenager, Beth Foster has had an ongoing interest in politics. In 2005, she worked on the governor’s campaign in Virginia, and then in 2006, she helped out in a congressional campaign.

It took a while, but the Blunt Youth Radio Project has helped Gavin Bauer find his voice.

According to CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at the University of Maryland, more than 32 million youth ages 18 to 25 will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. If 55 percent of these young people vote – a record turnout, attained only once, in the 1972 election – more than 17.6 million ballots will be cast.

Entering the Xcel Center on Sept. 3, I could sense the excitement building inside the massive 650,000-square-foot stadium as thousands waited for the greatest show on Earth, or at least the greatest show in St. Paul, Minn.

Victoria Blackstone, Ashley Gunn, Mike Knopf: What makes you so special? Why did you get into the Xcel Center, site of the Republican National Convention, and Y-Press did not?

With a brother who works for the Obama campaign as well as a family that tends to lean Democratic, I have grown up favoring Democrats. Early on in the Indiana primary, I strongly supported Barack Obama for president. I believed that he was the best and only candidate for the job. I agreed with Obama on immigration, global warming and education, and I strongly defended my beliefs up until I arrived at the Republican National Convention in September.