"The deep, dark secret is, elected officials are scared to death of students," former state legislator Frank Pignanelli, a lobbyist and political columnist, told University of Utah students Tuesday. He called the youth vote Utah's "sleeping giant."
Nearly one in five eligible voters in the state is 24 or younger. That's a bigger percentage than in any other state, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.
But, as in most of the country, young residents are apathetic, turning out in far lower numbers than their older counterparts.
Student leaders at Utah colleges, universities and high schools are trying to turn that around - putting on a statewide volunteer drive to engage and educate prospective voters. They may be making inroads.
Bryson Morgan, head of the University of Utah's VoteProject 1824, said the campaign has registered more than 600 students in the past 10 days and is now humming along at a rate of about 100 per day.
At BYU, project leader Max Hunsaker said volunteers registered more than 500 students Monday - the first day of a weeklong effort. And he estimated about the same number signed up Tuesday.
"Last year our goal was 2,000 [new registered voters] and we exceeded that, so our goal this year is 4,000," said Hunsaker. Project volunteers also helped 400 nonresident students request absentee ballots.
Tyler Allen, founder of VoteProject 1824, said the organization also is attempting to make candidates more responsive to the concerns of younger citizens. The group will be represented on panels that will pose questions at debates on KUED.
Allen pointed to a primary election debate between 2nd District congressional hopefuls Tim Bridgewater and John Swallow as an example of how young voters often are excluded from the political equation. When asked how they were appealing to youthful voters, Bridgewater talked about his drive for smaller government while Swallow touted his vow to keep Lake Powell open to wave-runners.
"They were totally caught off guard," Allen said.
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The deadline for mail-in registration is two weeks from today. Residents can register in person at county clerks' offices up to eight days before the Nov. 2 election.
