Alaska publishes updated voter registration data every month. The data published on December 4, 2009, has a new feature. It includes voter registration data by age group as well as by political party.
The biggest age group in general is the 45-54 group. There are more registered Democrats, more registered Republicans, and more registered members of the Alaskan Independence Party in this age group than in any other age group.
But the 25-34 age group is the biggest age group for each of the other parties that the state tracks. That is true for each of these parties: Libertarian, Republican Moderate, Green, and Veterans Parties. See the chart here.
I think this really shows an interesting fact. The older generation has had the political culture of a two-party system, which has existed since 1948. Many people 40 or older are lifelong Democrats or lifelong Republicans.
I’m 23. I have a strong memory of my father putting a Ross Perot sticker on his Bronco II. I voted for Nader in my 8th grade mock election. People under 40 have witnessed more ‘threats’ to the two party system and are more likely to not accept that the two party system is “just the way it is in this country”.
Vaughn: God bless you and your father.