5:30pm - More than 450 high school students crowded into Rock the Vote’s Rock the Caucus parties at Valley and Lincoln High Schools in Des Moines, and then headed off to participate in their first Iowa caucuses. The big turnout bolsters other evidence that young adults will play a significant role in Iowa and throughout the 2008 elections. See pictures of the parties here and here.
Said Valley student coordinator Ali Diaz, a high school junior: “Today was proof that young voters will have a big voice in the 2008 elections. I’m excited to be voting in my first caucus – I get to play a part in deciding who the next president of the United States will be tonight, and that’s an amazing feeling.”
4 pm - Right now, high school students are converging on Rock the Caucus parties at Valley High School in West Des Moines and Lincoln High School in Des Moines.
We’re expecting hundreds of students at the parties - here are a few of the first pictures from Valley High.
Check back here throughout the night for updates from the field, photos from the parties, and more!
“Politicians won’t be the only ones rallying the troops to the caucuses today. An after-school party at Valley High School is expected to draw up to 300 students to teach them about the importance of their vote. Rock the Caucus is sponsored by Rock the Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization…Valley and Lincoln High School in Des Moines will be the first metro-area schools to host the event.
“We know from polling that young adults are really a new generation that is incredibly engaged in politics,’ said Kathleen Barr, director of education at Rock the Vote. ‘The energy young Iowans have been showing provides a really good opportunity to continue the momentum into 2008 from Day 1.’
“Junior Ali Diaz, 17, has been working on the event for the past month. She is one of nine captains who spent the end of December recruiting student pledges to caucus. ‘I think it’s a privilege that we’re allowed to vote at such a young age,’ Diaz said. ‘I really want people to think of it as a privilege and a right that not everyone gets.’”
“According to Iowa law, anyone age 18 by Nov. 4, 2008, is allowed to participate in the caucuses. Diaz said she makes the cut by mere days. ‘I’m going to take full advantage of it,’ she said.”
Rock the Caucus event